Written By |
Deceased Akankunda Ritah
Search
By Our Reporter
Mbarara –
Police in Mbarara District have arrested two individuals in connection with the murder of a woman in Bwizibwera-Rutooma Town Council, Mbarara District. Rwizi Region Police Spokesperson, SP Samson Kasasira, confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Akankunda Ritah, 25, a resident of Bwizibwera Cell in Mbarara District. The suspects are Byamukama Javira Mawuruba, a 19-year-old domestic worker employed at the home of Namutebi Jolly Kabaale, and Kembabazi Winnie, 30, a sister-in-law to the deceased.
According to police reports, the incident occurred on the morning of Saturday, May 24, 2025, at around 7:20 a.m. It was first reported by Karegyeya Brighton, a 24-year-old veterinary doctor who had gone to treat cattle at Namutebi Jolly’s home in Kabaale, Bwizibwera. Upon arrival, he was met by Kembabazi Winnie, who claimed that unknown assailants had killed her sister-in-law. Karegyeya entered the house and discovered Ritah’s lifeless body. He immediately reported the matter at Bwizibwera Police Station under SD REF 04/24/05/2025 and CRB 252/2025.
A team led by the District Police Commander, the Officer-in-Charge of Bwizibwera Police Station, detectives, scene-of-crime officers, and the Rubindi Canine Unit responded to the scene. A police sniffer dog was introduced to the body and picked up a scent, which it tracked for about 100 meters to a pit latrine within the same compound. After sniffing around the latrine, the dog moved directly to a house occupied by Byamukama Javira and sat inside—indicating a match to the scent.
Inside the latrine, police recovered blood-stained clothes later identified as belonging to Javira. Upon interrogation, he allegedly confessed to the murder and claimed that Kembabazi Winnie had paid him to carry out the act.
“Preliminary findings suggest that this was a planned attack. The suspect admitted that he was hired by a relative of the deceased, with whom she had ongoing domestic conflicts,” SP Kasasira stated.
Further investigations revealed that Kembabazi and the deceased had a history of bitter disputes within the household. Both suspects are currently in custody at Bwizibwera Central Police Station.
Police confirmed that key exhibits have been secured and that the suspects will be charged in court upon completion of investigations.
Torch Media Africa
