SHEEMA, Uganda — Police in Sheema District are investigating a suspected domestic murder after a man allegedly killed his wife during an early morning altercation in Masheruka Sub-county.
The suspect, identified as Innocent Muhabwe, a 34-year-old resident of Katojo Village and son of the late Tumusiime, is accused of killing his 45-year-old wife, Edridah Tuhaisomwe, at around 4 a.m. on Wednesday.
According to preliminary information from local authorities, Innocent allegedly attacked his wife inside their home before leaving the scene and surrendering himself at Sheema Nyakashambya Prisons. Prison authorities immediately notified security agencies, leading to his transfer into police custody, where he remains detained as investigations continue.
Police detectives and crime scene officers responded to the incident and recovered the body of the deceased. The body was later taken to a health facility for a postmortem examination to establish the exact cause of death.
The LC III Chairperson of Masheruka Sub-county, Mr. Opedo, described the incident as a tragic loss for the community and urged residents to remain calm as law enforcement agencies carry out their investigations.
“We have lost a member of our community in very painful circumstances. We ask residents to remain peaceful and allow the authorities to establish all the facts surrounding this incident,” he said.
According to the neighbours, Edridah had been taking care of both the man and the children and the conflict arose after she reportedly asked Innocent for school fees for their children, which he was unable to provide. This arose into a quarrel that led to her death.
The killing has renewed concerns about the persistent challenge of domestic and intimate partner violence in Uganda. Police statistics indicate that thousands of Ugandans continue to suffer abuse within their homes each year, with women accounting for the majority of victims.
According to recent crime data, 12,361 people were recorded as victims of domestic violence in 2025, most of them adult women. National surveys have also shown that more than half of ever partnered women in Uganda have experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner during their lifetime.
The 2024 Police Annual Crime Report documented 14,073 cases of domestic violence across the country, highlighting the continued prevalence of abuse despite ongoing awareness campaigns and legal protections.
Authorities have appealed to members of the public with information that may assist investigators to come forward as inquiries into the circumstances surrounding Edridah’s death continue.
Police said the suspect will remain in custody as detectives compile evidence for possible criminal charges.
The incident has left residents of Katojo Village in shock and mourning as the community awaits the outcome of the police investigation.
