“I have killed her”: Family Recall Chilling Call After Ibanda Killings

Police and other security agencies in western Uganda are searching for a man suspected of killing two women, including his wife, in an incident that has left residents of Ibanda District in shock.

The suspect, who is currently on the run, is accused of murdering his wife, Phionah Nsimenta, and a neighbour, Oliver Nalugo, in the early hours of Monday before fleeing the area.

Family members say they became aware of the incident after receiving a disturbing phone call from the suspect shortly before dawn.

Monica Nshemereirwe, a sister of the deceased woman, said the suspect contacted her and appeared to confess to the killing.

“I received a phone call from him telling me that my in-law would come and check on your sister because I have killed her. He told me to come and pick her body before it rotted in the house. It was around 5:30am,” Ms Nshemereirwe said.

When relatives arrived, residents first directed them to a body lying by the roadside, which was later identified as Nalugo.

The family then proceeded to Nsimenta’s home, where they found the house locked.

“We waited for police, who came and broke the door. Her body was found lying in a pool of blood, while her two young children were sleeping nearby. They had no idea what had happened,” Ms Nshemereirwe said.

Residents said the couple had reportedly experienced recurring domestic disputes, with local leaders often intervening in an effort to resolve their differences.

Mackline Kyomukama, a resident of the area, said the fatal outcome had stunned the community.

“They often fought and leaders would always intervene. We never imagined the misunderstandings would end this way,” she said.

The killings have heightened concerns about safety among residents, some of whom say violent incidents have become increasingly common.

“There is a lot of fear in our area. These days you cannot move around after 9pm because of criminals. Domestic conflicts are also increasing,” said Hilda Tushabomwe, another resident.

Nalugo’s husband, Emmanuel Tumusiimwe, said he learned of the attack through his daughter, who was with her mother when the incident occurred.

“My daughter told me that Posiano had attacked them, but she managed to run away. We did not know whether her mother had survived until we found her lying in a pool of blood,” he said.

Security officials have appealed to the public to assist with information that could lead to the suspect’s arrest while urging residents not to resort to retaliation.

“We ask members of the public to cooperate with security agencies and share any information that may help us track down the suspect. However, they should not take the law into their own hands,” said Robert Tumusiime of the Internal Security Organisation (ISO).

Ibanda Deputy Resident District Commissioner Godfrey Guma Nabireba confirmed the incident and said investigations were underway.

“We have started investigations into the incident and hope the public will cooperate with us. We shall apprehend him because he is still making phone calls to people, and we are following up those leads,” Mr Nabireba said.

The case has renewed concerns about domestic violence and violent crime in Uganda. According to police statistics, 9,651 people died in homicide cases and traffic-related incidents in 2025, compared with 9,749 deaths recorded the previous year.

Investigations into the double killing are ongoing.