Authorities in northern Uganda have launched an investigation following the gruesome death of a 36-year-old woman who was allegedly raped and murdered in a forest in Kitgum Municipality.
The victim, identified as Agness Aneno, worked as a cook at Kitgum Boys Primary School. She was found early Wednesday morning tied to a tree and critically injured in Latiti Cell, Pager Division. Locals reported hearing her cries for help around 5:00am and rushed to the scene, where they discovered her in severe condition.
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According to police, a blunt object had been forcibly inserted into her body. She was immediately taken to St Joseph Hospital in Kitgum but was declared dead upon arrival.
Regional police spokesperson Joe Oloya confirmed that a murder investigation has been opened.
“It was reported that at around 5:00am, a lady was heard crying in a forest belonging to the late Opia. Community members responded and found the woman tied to a tree and badly injured,” Mr Oloya said. “A piece of stick was pushed into her private parts.”
The District Criminal Investigations Department and other detectives have documented the scene, and a postmortem examination is being conducted at Kitgum General Hospital. While no arrests have been made, police say inquiries are ongoing, and there are unverified reports that Aneno may have been pregnant at the time of the attack.
This case has sparked renewed concerns over violence in the region. Since the beginning of 2024, at least nine people have been killed in the Aswa East policing region.
According to the Uganda Police’s 2023 Annual Crime Report, Kitgum District had the highest number of murders in the Acholi sub-region, registering 34 cases. Other districts also reported significant figures: Gulu City had 28, Omoro District 27, Pader 18, and Gulu District 12.
In total, the Acholi sub-region recorded 218 homicides last year. Nationwide, Uganda reported 4,248 murders in 2023—averaging roughly 11 killings per day.
Police are appealing to the public for any information that could aid the investigation.
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