Four suspects are in police custody in connection to the murder of Dr. Jino Abiriga, the former Acting Masindi District Health Officer-DHO. Abiriga was brutally killed in the early hours of Sunday, around 2 a.m., by unidentified assailants. He sustained severe wounds to the neck, head, both hands, and his back.
Passersby found his lifeless body near his gate, under a mango tree in Kijura North cell, Central division of Masindi municipality, at around 6 a.m. and promptly alerted the authorities. Upon receiving information about the heinous crime, the police retrieved the body, which was initially taken to Masindi General Hospital mortuary and subsequently transferred to Mulago National Referral Hospital for a postmortem examination.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police Spokesperson, told Uganda Radio Network-URN that four suspects, including the deceased’s wife, have been apprehended to aid in the ongoing investigation. Hakiza noted that while bloodstains were found inside the deceased’s house, his body was discovered outside the gate. He declined to name the suspects to safeguard the integrity of the police probe.
Emmy Ngabirano, the Masindi Resident District Commissioner, assured the public of ongoing efforts by security forces to investigate Abiriga’s death. Phionah Sanyu, the Masindi Chief Administrative Officer, urged the public to trust the security agencies involved in the investigation.
Joab Businge, the Masindi Municipality Member of Parliament, condemned the brutal manner in which Abiriga was murdered. Cosmas Byaruhanga, the Masindi District LC V Chairperson, called upon the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the brutal murder and mourned the loss of a dedicated and generous healthcare worker in the district.