Serere Police Under Pressure to Expedite Investigations into Deaths of Four Women
The police in Serere District are under increasing pressure from grieving families and concerned residents to speed up investigations into the deaths of four women that occurred within a span of just one week.
The disturbing incidents have left the community in shock and raised urgent questions about safety, law enforcement, and justice.
On May 6, the lifeless body of 18-year-old Morren Agayo, a student at Homeward Secondary School in Serere, was discovered in a cassava garden.
Preliminary reports suggest that Agayo died after allegedly being administered abortion pills by an unqualified nurse.
Her family has expressed outrage over the lack of accountability, stating that no arrests have been made and that police have not shared any formal report about the circumstances surrounding her death.
“We know who gave her the pills,” said a relative who preferred anonymity. “Why has the nurse not been arrested? Why haven’t we received an update from the police? This silence is unbearable.”
A day after Agayo’s death, tragedy struck again in Ongoto village, Bugondo Sub County.
Two sisters, Sabiti Atai, 45, and Jane Akol, 50, were brutally killed in a suspected land conflict.
According to initial accounts, the sisters had sold a piece of family land, and the buyer had arrived to survey it.
During this process, the women were reportedly attacked by five of their nephews in an apparent dispute over the sale.
Only one suspect has so far been arrested in connection to the killings. The other four remain at large, intensifying tensions in the area.
Simon Emokol, the victims’ uncle, revealed that the land dispute has been simmering for over a decade.
“I have tried to mediate between these family members for more than 10 years,” Emokol said.
“Now we have two dead daughters, and the matter is still unresolved. What kind of justice is this?”
As the community was still grappling with the sisters’ deaths, another tragic discovery was made on May 10.
Janet Kongai, a respected treasurer of a village savings group in Akoboi village, Olio Sub County, was found murdered in her home.
Her son reported that he found the house open early in the morning and was devastated to find his mother’s lifeless body inside.
The police have yet to arrest any suspects in Kongai’s case.
With no updates or public statements from the authorities, community members fear that justice is being delayed or even denied.
Najibu Waiswa, the District Police Commander of Serere, declined to comment when contacted by media regarding the progress of investigations into the four incidents.
Frustration among the residents is mounting.
Many claim that the police have developed a worrying pattern of retrieving bodies without pursuing rigorous investigations or providing timely updates to affected families.
“We’re tired of watching our people die and getting no answers,” said a local council leader who requested anonymity. “The police cannot just carry away bodies and vanish. We need accountability, and we need justice for these women.”
Human rights activists in Teso sub-region have also voiced concern about the apparent lethargy in law enforcement.
They argue that such cases, if not handled transparently and urgently, risk eroding public trust in the justice system.
As of now, the families of Morren Agayo, Sabiti Atai, Jane Akol, and Janet Kongai continue to wait, grieving not only the loss of their loved ones but also the silence that has followed.
