Man kills wife over suspected affair with her father-in-law

Police in Kabale District, Western Uganda, are holding a 30-year-old man, Nestor Natukunda, who allegedly killed his 21-year-old wife, Shilla Ainembabazi over a suspected extramarital affair.

The incident occurred on Thursday evening at around 5:00pm at Nyarutuntu Cell in Butobere Ward, Central division in Kabale municipality.

According to Kigezi Regional Police Spokesperson, Mr Elly Maate, Natukunda attacked his wife with a panga, chopping off her head, after accusing her of having an affair with her father-in-law.

Maate revealed that Ainembabazi had left her husband's home in early January 2025 to do shopping in Kampala, with plans to open her own shop. Upon her return, Natukunda allegedly assaulted her, suspecting infidelity.

"It's alleged that, in early January 2025, the deceased left her husband's home and went to Kampala for shopping, since she wanted to open up a shop," Maate said. "It's further alleged that upon coming back from Kampala, the husband assaulted her on suspicion of infidelity. On Thursday, the husband ambushed her and killed her using a panga, which he left in the father's sweet potato garden across the road."

Maate added that Natukunda then called his biological brother, Nicolas, and informed him of the crime. Nicolas, in turn, informed their father, Alex Kwehangana, who reported the incident to Kabale Police Station.

The scene of the crime was examined and documented by the Kabale Police Homicide team, led by the district CID Officer, Hakim Mukama. The body was conveyed to Kabale Regional Referral Hospital for postmortem examination after relevant statements were recorded from key witnesses.

Natukunda was arrested for questioning and will be arraigned in court to face murder-related charges.

Mr Maate emphasised the importance of using relevant authorities to solve grievances, rather than taking the law into one's own hands.