Supermarket attendant pins Kyambogo lecturer over pouring acid on lover

Grace Amule, 32, a supermarket attendant in Kireka has pinned a Kyambogo university lecturer on alleged pouring of acid on his lover Judith Angole.

James Kazungu Alupo, 38, a lecturer at the Faculty of Civil Engineering was charged with attempted murder when he allegedly poured acid on Angole,40 an accountant with Africa Innovations Institute.

On Monday, Amule who was working at supermarket owned by the victim said that on the fateful day, they both returned home at around 1am and her boss (Angole) went to park the vehicle as she closed the gate.

“I proceeded to the house but found that there was no light at our house unlike our neighbors’ started looking for a candle,”Amule told Nakawa Chief Magistrates court presided over by Jameson Karemani.

“While in the house, I heard my boss speaking to someone but could not clearly pick what they were saying. I then heard her screaming that Kazungu had poured some substance on her.”

She told court that when she ran to the rescue of her boss, she didn’t find anyone adding that minutes later, Kazungu would show up and tried to come to the rescue of his wife.

“There were marks on his shirt as if something had poured on his shirt. The shirt was wet and while talking, he was quaking. He told me acid had poured on him as he lifted madam to hospital.”

The supermarket attendant who used to stay at Kazungu’s home in Kirinya said that later, her boss was rushed to hospital but the husband stayed back.

Another witness, Emmanuel Ojula,32, a neighbour to the family said that he had just returned home at around 1 am when he heard someone scream outside the door.

“She asked for help. I was hesitant to move out but my wife insisted we move out to see what was happening,”Ojula told court.

“On moving out, we found Angole laying on the verandah crying that Kazungu had killed her by pouring a certain substance she didn’t know on her.”

According to the witness, they sensed a funny smell on Angole’s body prompting them to pour water on her to cool her body.

He added that after over 40 minutes, Kazungu showed up requesting to know what had happened.

“Later, we rushed her to Life Link hospital in Namugongo but Kazungu didn’t go with us. After first aid,we were referred to Kirudu hospital but on our way, the staff from Life Link asked her what had happened and on several occasions he mentioned the name Kazungu.”

“She said her lover, Kazungu had poured acid on her.”

According to evidence by the victim, she started living with Kazungu at Kirinya in Wakiso district in 2014 but he failed on his responsibilities prompting her to think of ending the affair.

Angole told court recently that on the fateful day, as she was entering the house, she realized Kazungu was standing behind her and on turning to talk to him, acid was poured to her face.

On Monday, she was not in court and according to the state prosecutor Ann Ntimba, she was still in hospital.

The case was adjourned to April 18 for further hearing.

Acid victims storm court

Meanwhile, a group of acid victims on Monday stormed Nakawa court demanding for justice over the actions of the perpetuators around the country.

Led by Linnet Kirungi, the programs director at End Acid Violence Uganda, an NGO fighting to end acid attacks, the group urged government to come up with stringent measures against those accused of orchestrating acid attacks.

“We want government to come up with a law that would regulate the sale and handling of acid .Currently, one can part with shs3000 and buy acid without being questioned about its use,”Kirungi said.

They also argued that it wrong to have those accused of orchestrating acid attacks released on bail as it puts the lives of the victims at risk.