(Tororo) – Residents of Tororo Municipality are grappling with shock and fear following the brutal murder of Hawa Mariam Doka, the LC3 Vice Chairperson of the Eastern Division. On the evening of September 2, 2024, an unknown assailant attacked and strangled her inside her own home in Nyangole A cell. The murder has left the community stunned, as Doka was a well known and respected figure.
Reports indicate that the attacker, described as a man wearing a hooded jacket, scaled the wall of Doka’s fenced compound around 6:00 pm. After committing the murder, he quickly escaped by jumping over the perimeter wall. The details of the attack suggest that the assailant may have been monitoring Doka’s movements throughout the day, as she had earlier withdrawn her daughter’s school fees, raising suspicions that this might have been a factor in the crime.
The following morning, police took Doka’s son in for questioning after he reported seeing a hooded man fleeing the scene. Bukedi South Police Region’s acting spokesperson, Moses Mugwe, confirmed that investigations are underway to identify and apprehend those responsible for the crime. The police are treating the case with urgency, given the rising concern over safety among the residents.
The incident has left local leaders and neighbors deeply troubled by what they see as an alarming increase in criminal activity in Tororo. The murder of Doka comes just a month after another high profile attack in the area. Joseph Francis Olokojo, the former headteacher of Tororo College, was similarly targeted by unknown assailants who burned him to death. Police have yet to solve Olokojo’s case, adding to the community’s anxiety.
Tororo Municipality Mayor Kenneth Orono Nyapidi strongly condemned the killing of Doka, urging residents to strengthen neighborhood watch programs to enhance security. He emphasized the importance of swift action during emergencies, noting that if Doka’s son had raised an alarm when he heard his mother’s screams, the attackers might have been caught.
“I urge the police to expedite their investigations and bring those responsible to justice,” Orono said, reflecting the community’s demand for accountability and swift action in the wake of these tragedies.
Adding to the town’s distress, just three days prior to Doka’s murder, another local leader, John Ekanyang, the LC2 Chairperson of Nyalakot Parish in Morukatipe sub county, was hacked to death. Ekanyang was killed by Selestine Omonya at Amagoro Village after delivering a judgment in a land dispute that did not favor Omonya.
