Rubanda man probed over his  murdered wife

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On mere suspicion that she was having a secret love affair with another man, a husband in a fit of jealousy has pounced on his wife and battered her into a coma, abandoning her for dead.

However, the Local Council chairperson, on getting information, found the wife lying unconscious and directed the husband to take her to a nearby health facility for treatment. The man, instead, dragged the unconscious woman to a nearby makeshift shelter and abandoned her again, where she was discovered dead the next morning.

On getting the information about her death, he instead handed himself over to the LCs, fearing mob action and was rushed to the nearby Police station.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, July 02, 2025, at Rwamahano village in Ikamiro parish, Rubanda district, when Kabuyanda Tamugabomwe allegedly battered his wife, Mariserina Linna, 30.

According to Kigezi Police region spokesperson Elly Maate, Kabuyanda was on July 3, still under detention at Rubanda Central Police Station.

In a statement, Maate explained that on the night of July 02, at about 3:00am (late night) the couple had a misunderstanding, and the man accused the wife of having an affair with another man yet to be identified.

It is alleged that the suspect severely assaulted the wife and inflicted severe injuries on her head. The report indicates that when the man saw her weakened and helpless, he abandoned her.

It was until 8:00am when, the LC1 Chairperson, Benard Turyahirwa learnt about the incident and visited the scene, and found her where she had been left lying, but in critical condition.

“The concerned chairman went around and traced the suspect and asked him to go and attend to his wife and advised him to take her to the hospital for medical treatment”.

“Unfortunately, Kabuyanda instead carried and put her in a temporary tent where they have been living while guarding domestic animals in the neighbourhood,” Maate explained.

Unfortunately, he said, when residents checked on her at about 10:00hrs, she had died. 

The suspect, he explained, handed himself to the Defence LC1 Secretary Denis Kamene, who he said escorted him to Muko Police Station.

Maate said the police visited the scene and obtained statements from witnesses, and called a doctor that conducted the postmortem and handed over the body to relatives for a burial.

Message of caution

Maate warned residents against using violence to resolve their domestic misunderstandings.

“It is always advisable to handle any type of grievances amicably or utilize the services of local leaders or relevant offices to help you out instead of taking the law into your own hands,” he said.

Kabuyanda was facing charges of murder by assault but according to Maate, inquiries into this case were still ongoing.     

Domestic violence murders

According to the recent annual crime report by the Police, 183 cases of murder as a result of domestic violence were reported to the Police countrywide in 2024, compared to 242 cases reported a year earlier, giving a 24% decrease.

Out of the total cases reported to the Police, 104 cases were taken to court and are still pending trail, two cases were not proceeded with, while 77 cases are still under inquiry.

A total of 183 persons were killed as a result of aggravated domestic violence, of whom 82 were male adults, 75 were female adults, 16 were male juveniles, and 10 were female juveniles.