The body of Dr. Jino Abiriga, former acting district health officer, arrived in Masindi District on Monday evening after undergoing an independent post-mortem at Mulago National Referral Hospital. Arise Funeral Directors facilitated the return, and the body spent the night at Masindi Hospital, where a vigil was held.
The Masindi District Local Government outlined a program, indicating that the body would proceed to the Masindi district headquarters for a council session from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Following this, it is scheduled to depart for Maracha District at 1:30 pm, where the burial will take place on Thursday, January 11, in Tumvia village, Ofude Parish, Tara Sub-County.
Dr. Abiriga, also a gynecologist at Masindi Hospital, was discovered dead on Sunday in a neighbor’s compound in Kijura North, Central Division, Masindi Municipality. The investigators from the Police’s homicide department, aided by the deceased’s wife, spent Monday reconstructing the scene and examining a pit latrine, potentially linked to the crime.
Four family members, including children, the wife, and the maid, were arrested on Monday to assist with the ongoing investigations. Albertine region Police spokesperson Julius Allan Hakiza explained that the arrests were made due to the discovery of blood stains in the house. The arrested individuals are currently detained at Masindi Central Police Station.
While emphasizing that the arrested suspects are not necessarily implicated in the murder, Hakiza stated, “We want to find out why there were blood stains in the house because the body was a few meters away from the home. How come that blood stains were in the house? We can’t say that they’re the ones who murdered their father, but we want them to help us in the investigations.”
Investigator Ngabirano acknowledged the family’s cooperation, mentioning, “We arrested them because the deceased was in the house, and he had reported in the evening later only to understand that the body is in the compound. The question is how did he leave the house? All indicators indicate that what happened to the deceased wasn’t far from the scene vicinity.”
At the time of his death, Dr. Abiriga had served as the acting DHO for about two years, with a total of 30 years of service at Masindi Hospital. Additionally, he owned Wanainchi Clinic, a private clinic located in Masindi town.
