Ugandan policeman jailed 50 years for strangling to death colleague’s 9-year-old daughter
The High Court in Kampala has sentenced Inspector of Police Emmanuel Abura Wilson, aged 48, to 50 years in prison for the murder of 9-year-old Patience Namwanje, the daughter of his colleague.
Justice Margret Mutonyi delivered the verdict, convicting Abura for strangling Namwanje. The tragic incident occurred amid escalating conflicts between Abura and Namwanje's uncle, Corporal Joel Mwonda, with whom Abura shared a residence in Nalya Housing Estate. The disputes stemmed from various grievances, including Abura's killing of Mwonda's chicken, water disconnection, and placement of a garbage container.
These ongoing misunderstandings, reported to the police's administration unit, culminated in Abura making threats against Mwonda and his family, recorded by Namwanje on her phone. On November 6th, 2021, at approximately 5:30 pm, Namwanje's mother, Lydia Takali, briefly left her daughter at home to go to the shop. Upon returning and finding the door locked, she enlisted Abura's children to access the house. Inside, they discovered Namwanje's lifeless body hanging from a police lane yard.
Despite initial speculation of suicide, police investigations and the physical evidence ruled out this possibility, leading to Abura's arrest and subsequent trial. During sentencing, Justice Mutonyi condemned Abura's actions as heinous and labeled him a disgrace to the police force, emphasizing the duty to protect lives.
Given Abura's disability and the fact that it did not deter him from committing the crime, Justice Mutonyi deemed him a danger to society, particularly young children. She handed down a sentence of 50 years, deducting only the time spent on remand, resulting in 49 years and 4 months of imprisonment.
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