A 48 year-old pastor from Christ Church in Bukhabusi Sub-county, Namisindwa District, has been apprehended for the brutal killing of his 44-year-old pregnant wife. The pastor, residing in Malukhu Village, Butiru Parish, stands accused of hacking his wife, Agnes Mandala, to death during a domestic altercation.
According to police reports and accounts from neighbors, the suspect had previously accused his late wife of infidelity with another man in the neighborhood. The deceased’s lifeless body was discovered on the banks of a deep stream of water on Wednesday.
Elgon Regional Police Spokesperson Rogers Taitika revealed that the deceased, 22 weeks pregnant, showed signs of wounds on the spleen. Postmortem reports confirmed the pregnancy.
A Police canine unit was deployed to the crime scene, leading investigators to the suspect’s residence, where he was arrested. Personal belongings of the deceased, including a phone, were found in the possession of the suspect.
Taitika emphasized the need for couples to refrain from resorting to violence as a means of resolving marital issues. The family, friends, and church community of the deceased urged the police to conduct a swift investigation into the tragic incident.
Expressing concern over rising cases of domestic violence in the Elgon region, Taitika disclosed that from January to June 2023, the police recorded 70 domestic violence cases and four murders resulting from domestic disputes. The statistics also revealed alarming figures of child-related crimes, including torture, defilement, rape, neglect, and desertion.
Mbale Senior Development Officer (DCDO) Baker Mwanya attributed the surge in Gender-Based Violence (GBV) to factors such as poverty, traditional beliefs, and lack of awareness. Bennah Namono, the head of Women activists in Bugisu Sub-region, called for government intervention, especially in ensuring the safety of women facing such threats.
