Shock as expectant journalist is killed in her house

GULU. Grief on Tuesday engulfed residents of Kolo quarters in Layibi Division, Gulu Municipality after they recovered a decomposing half-naked body of Scovia Anena,23, lying in clotted blood in her rented room.
Anena, by the time of her death was at the peak of her career as a promising freelance journalist with a local radio station, Favor FM in Gulu town.
She was reportedly six months pregnant and her death robbed her chance of seeing her first born child.

News of Anena’s death was broken after her neighbours who had not seen her since Saturday saw flies hovering at her door that had been reportedly locked from outside.
Neighbours who saw her body said her neck was tied with a rope connected to a chair in the sitting room, raising questions of possible strangulation.
She is suspected to have been killed on Saturday night.
Ms Winny Lamwaka, the deceased's elder sister, in an interview with Daily Monitor on Tuesday, said her sister was last seen on Saturday morning by the neighbours.
She said the deceased was living alone in her rented house while her husband was away working in Kitgum district.

“I last saw the deceased last week (Monday), but since I stay nearby I knew of her presence and even on Saturday morning I passed in front of her house and saw a sandal, meaning she was around,” said Ms Lamwaka.
According to Ms Lamwaka, the shocking discovery was prompted when the deceased's husband alerted them that her sister’s phone numbers had not been available since Friday and asked them to go and check on her.
“I didn’t have time then and so I failed to check on her. I knew that since her door was locked on Sunday, she could have gone to work or for prayers, but I was shocked to find out that she is dead,” said Ms Lamwaka.
Ms Carol Ayugi, a news editor at the deceased's work place said that Anena last showed up at work on Friday and worked on her stories for the day’s bulletin.
“It’s surprising to hear that she is gone. The deceased had been a quiet and jolly workmate,” she said.
Gulu District Police Commander, Mr Martin Okoyo, confirmed the incident, adding that they (police) has started investigating Anena's death.

“The deceased's body was taken to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital for a post-mortem examination. We are however working hard to ensure that the perpetuators are brought to book,” he said.
Post-mortem examination results revealed that the deceased sustained chest and lung injuries, meaning she was possibly hit by a blunt object.
However, Mr Okoyo said police have a lead to some suspects adding that they will soon apprehend them to help in the investigations.

Recent murders in Gulu district
Last week, a 70 year-old woman identified as Matta Abalo was killed in Koro sub-county by her, 24- year -old -niece on allegations of practicing witchcraft.
On 27th of last month, a 50-year-old lady identified as Sabina Adong was murdered by unidentified persons at Pece division in Gulu Municipality.
In mid may this year, a- 40- year -old woman identified as Joyce Apiyo was murdered in Lujorongole parish, Lakwana Sub county Gulu district in land row.
Since the beginning of the year, a total of nine murder cases have been reported at Gulu central Police station.
In 2013, 92 cases of murders were reported within Gulu district alone.

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