Jilted Lyantonde man kills wife, flees

Police in Lyantonde district are hunting for a man said to have killed his wife suspecting her of having an affair with another man.

 Pius Gaava, 50, a resident of Kaliiro Ward D, went into hiding shortly after reportedly strangling his 26-year-old wife Christine Natwera.

The fugitive husband is understood to be a prominent barber in Lyantonde Town Council.

The Saturday late night murder sent waves of shock within the area.

Ruth Nakawala, the District Criminal Investigations Officer, confirmed the murder, saying the couple had split following a longstanding domestic dispute.

They had no children together and Natwera had been living with her sister for about five months since the separation.

Detectives and shocked residents at the scene of crime. (Credit: Davis Buyondo)

Police's preliminary findings show that Gaava has on many occasions called Natwera, pleading with her to return home. But Natwera would turn down his request reportedly fearing for her life.

On Friday, Gaava again asked her to return and they resolve their differences and revive their relationship.

Neighbours said that the following day, Gaava started a quarrel accusing Natwera of infidelity. That led to the jilted man strangling his lover.

According to police's Nakawala, the suspect called the murdered woman's family in Rwenunula village in Rwenkindo sub-county, Ntugamo district to collect her body, before fleeing.

She said police went to the scene and took the body to Lyantonde Hospital for a postmortem examination.

The deceased's father Manuel Lugasira appealed to police to hunt for Gaava for justice to prevail.

Dr. Daina Mutamba, the Natwera's employer, said she asked for a day off in order to reconcile with her husband, only to hear that she had been killed.

Ibin Ssenkumbi, the Regional Police Spokesperson, said they have begun investigations into the matter.

He said that they are liaising with police in the neighbouring districts to arrest Gaava. The case SD REF 47/17/06/2016 was recorded and police is processing the CRB number as investigations continue.