Police probe Rwampara woman over husband’s mysterious killing

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Police in Rwampara district have arrested 53-year-old Dinavence Kyomugyemo in connection with the shocking murder of her husband, Geresiano Byakatonda, a businessman from Kaaya Cell, Bugamba subcounty.

The gruesome discovery has left many questioning what could drive a woman to allegedly kill her husband after more than three decades of marriage.

Byakatonda was last seen alive on March 16, 2025, when he left home for church. However, the following morning, students walking to school stumbled upon his lifeless body, dumped in a eucalyptus plantation on Binyuga-Munyere Road.

His murder has sent shockwaves through the community, heightening concerns about rising domestic conflicts in the district.

When police arrived at the crime scene, they deployed a sniffer dog, Hector, which led them straight to Byakatonda’s home.

There, officers uncovered a bloodstained iron bar abandoned in the compound and a mosquito net with similar stains hidden under a bed.

Investigators believe these could be key pieces of evidence linking Kyomugyemo to the crime.

Preliminary findings suggest that the couple had ongoing domestic disputes, though the exact motive behind the killing remains unclear. Could financial struggles, infidelity, or deep-seated resentment have driven the suspect to such an extreme act? Police are still piecing together the events leading to Byakatonda’s tragic death.

Rwampara a crime hotspot

While Uganda’s overall crime rate reportedly dropped by 4.1% last year—from 228,074 cases in 2023 to 218,715 in 2024—Rwampara remains one of the districts grappling with high crime levels.

As part of the broader Rwizi policing region, which includes Ibanda, Isingiro, Kiruhura, Mbarara, Ntungamo, and Kazo, the district has seen a surge in violent crimes, including domestic-related murders.

Authorities attribute the high crime rates to land disputes, economic hardships, and weak community policing structures.

Byakatonda’s murder now adds to a growing list of violent incidents that have placed the district under scrutiny.

Dogs and detectives

Byakatonda’s case is just one of thousands solved with the help of the Uganda Police Canine Unit. In 2024 alone, police dogs helped track and arrest 15,579 suspects across the country, according to the latest Annual Crime Report.

The unit carried out 19,899 tracking operations, leading to 5,520 prosecutions and the recovery of 6,920 pieces of evidence.

Trained to follow scent trails over long distances, sniffer dogs have become an invaluable asset in solving crimes, particularly murders, burglaries, and livestock theft. Their presence at major border points, including Entebbe International Airport, has also strengthened Uganda’s anti-narcotics and counter-terrorism efforts.

Since 2010, the Uganda Police Canine Unit has expanded significantly, with a dedicated breeding and training centre in Naggalama ensuring that nearly every police station in the country has at least two trained dogs.

Their effectiveness in tracking criminals—such as in Byakatonda’s case—reinforces the role of modern policing methods in crime-fighting.

A broader security challenge

In response to Uganda’s evolving security landscape, authorities are rolling out new strategies, including a sub-county policing model aimed at improving community engagement.

A combination of digital surveillance, increased canine deployment, and public cooperation is seen as the way forward in curbing violent crime.

However, lingering questions remain: Could Byakatonda’s murder have been prevented if local authorities had intervened in the couple’s disputes earlier? And what deeper social and economic factors are fuelling such domestic crimes?