28-year-old Jinja woman gang raped, killed
Jan 18, 2016
Namatovu’s body was found half naked and used condoms were found nearby together with her knickers
WHAT began as an evening out filled with merrymaking for two friends at a bar ended in tragedy after 28-year-old Joan Namatovu was waylaid, gang-raped and killed by unknown assailants.
Namatovu was waylaid by thugs on Saturday night who dumped her half naked lifeless body close to her place of residence at Mafubira zone A in Mafubira Sub County in Jinja district. Her body was discovered on Sunday morning by residents.
According to Proscovia Nandase, also known as Alice, a friend to Namatovu told New Vision that she was with Namatovu on Saturday night for a drink at Esther's Bar in Mafubira.
"While we were having fun at Esther's Bar, one unidentified lady picked a quarrel with my friend (Namatovu) and engaged in an argument and I heard the lady warning Namatovu and threatened to cause her harm," Nandase said.
With tears rolling down her cheeks, Nandase said they immediately left the bar and went to another for a Karaoke concert.
Nandase said she had been sharing a room with Namatovu for close to one month since she returned from Kampala to her home area at Kivubuka in Jinja district.
"I failed to know the whereabouts of Namatovu and decided to come and sleep, I was only woken up by residents who knocked on my door to inform me that they have recovered the body of my friend," She narrated.
Nandase further said that she immediately went and alerted the LC 1 chairperson Eddie Kyesswa, who later called the Jinja DPC, Felix Mugizi, who sent a Police patrol pickup truck to retrieve the body.
According to Kyesswa, Namatovu's body was found half naked and used condoms were found nearby together with her knickers adding that this raised suspicions that Namatovu was first gang raped and then killed.
The officer in charge of Mafubira Police Post, Dick Banya, arrived at the scene together with a police scene of crime officer who examined the body before wrapping it in a cloth and taking it to the Jinja morgue.
Banya said they had not yet made any arrests but they got clues that will lead to the arrest of the culprits.
He condemned the act of rape and murder which he said was contrary to the Constitution of Uganda adding that they are still making investigations to see that the culprits are apprehended.
Banya cautioned the public to emphasize neighbourhood watch schemes in order to guard or protect themselves and always report to local authorities people they deem suspicious.