NTUNGAMO – The Homicide Department at CID Headquarters has taken over investigations into the gruesome murder of Kabaterine Fridah , an 84-year-old, female peasant of Kagarame cell, Kyafoora Parish, in Ntungamo District.
The death occurred on Thursday, August 1, 2019, during morning hours, between 8 am – 11 am.
According to the Uganda Police Spokesperson CP Fred Enanga the suspect who was later established to be Kato Wilbroad Alfred alias Sama, a 23-year-old male peasant was tracked down and arrested from his home village in Kitusi Kyaburere parish, Rukungiri District.
“He recorded an extrajudicial statement, before the Magistrate in Ntugamo, revealing his accomplices as Natukunda Judith, a 28-year-old, former housemaid and Kaitesi Sharon Katurebe, a 32-year-old daughter-in-law, who had a grudge with the victim over land and proceeds from the sale of milk,” Enanga narrated.
He added that all the three suspects are in police custody and the recovered exhibits, were transferred to the GAL for further analysis.
CP Enanga said the preliminary facts reveal that on August 1 2019, at around 7 am, the victim’s grandson who was identified as Katureebe Fred, left her alone while she was still asleep, to go and milk the cows.
“The suspect took advantage of his absence, to attack and hack the victim to death. He dragged her body, dumped it in her bathroom and locked the bedroom,” Enanga narrated.
He further said that the suspect abandoned his blood-stained clothes that included; a jumper, trouser and white vest at the scene.
Adding that, “He also abandoned the murder weapon; a Panga, stained with blood and fled from the scene. Other exhibits of a gift deed, headdress and marijuana, were later recovered from his room.”
According to Enanga, the victim’s grandson, returned home after milking the cows, at around 11 am and met Faith Bahendera, a visitor who had come to check on the victim.
“The two broke into the bathroom, after the victim failed to wake up, only to find her dead in the bathroom,” he said.
CP Enanga reminded all commanders to take keen interest on the needs of elderly people, by checking on them regularly to reduce on their isolation and promote awareness on the dynamics surrounding the physical and emotional abuse of elderly persons.
“It has been noted that cases of abuse of elderly persons and victimization are sometimes not fast-tracked, due to their health and physical wellbeing… They should conduct background checks on caregivers to help the victims resolve issues of problematic offsprings, as well as workers who are a threat in their homes,” Enanga noted.
