Kipsang and Namurenge, the two male suspects arrested in the Murder of Dr. Abiriga. The suspects have been further remanded. Photo by URN

URN

The three suspects who were implicated in the murder of the former Masindi District Health Officer-DHO Dr Jino Abiriga have been further remanded to Hoima government prison. 

The suspects are Betty Cherotich, the wife to the deceased, Joshua Namurenge, a builder and a resident of Tarobya Village in Bukwo district, and Martin Kipsang, a carpenter and a resident of Roruk Village in Bukwo district.

State Prosecutor Munanura Arinaitwe Aganyira, informed Masindi Chief Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning that investigations into the matter are still ongoing and asked the court for more time to complete the process. 

Initially, the suspects were supposed to be remanded to Masindi Prison but they opted for Hoima Prison citing security reasons. This is the fourth time the suspects have appeared in court.    

It is alleged that the suspects and others still at large connived, coordinated, masterminded, and murdered Dr Abiriga on January 7, 2024. His body was found lying a few meters from his gate in Kijura North cell, Central division of Masindi municipality, at around 6 a.m. on the fateful day

Police and other security agencies including the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence operatives then embarked on the hunt for the suspected killers leading to the arrest of Cherotich from Masindi while Namureng and Kipsang were arrested from Bukwo district. 

Masindi Chief Magistrate Kosia Kasibayo further remanded them until March 21, 2024, when they will reappear in court.