Man denied sex beats up wife to pulp
Police in Hoima have in custody a man who battered his wife to near death for allegedly denying him sex at 3am.
Stephen Nyakatura was arrested on Monday is being charged with attempted murder as his wife Tinah Murungi remains admitted to Divine Medical Centre in Duhaga.
Ms Jane Kasimbi, her relative, says Nyakatura returned late in the night at their home in Kibaati but when she told him to first take a bath, he refused.
"What she told us is that Nyakatura, who has not been living with her for about three months, returned home at about 3am, and wanted to get [straight] to bed," he said.
In the ensuing fight, Kasimbi added, Nyakatura picked a high heel shoe and used it to beat her up as he demanded for a panga.
"Actually, what pissed him off were pictures in the wife's phone where she was posing with male friends," she added.
The relatives want leaders especially women who advocate for the rights of women to intervene, saying Nyakatura has always been saying he wants to sell the house, an idea a wife has never bought in, and this is what intensifies the tension between the two.
"We hear he was arrested and released, he always says he is untouchable here in Hoima because he was once a thug and is very connected to most security people," Kasimbi said.
"They have seven children together, where will the children go if he sells the house? And what he says he wants to sell it then rent around town a marry another wife, imagine such reasoning."
Albertine Region Police spokesperson John Hakiza refuted the allegations that Nyakatura was released by police.
'Whoever saw that video on how Murungi was assaulted, bleeding all over, who can release such kind of a man?" he said.
"He is still in our hands, probably today once investigations are done, his file will be sent to court for him to answer charges of assault and attempted murder."
Police confirmed rumours that Murungi was assaulted due to denying his husband sex.
"We condemn this act as police, how can you beat your wife because they refused to give you sex? Why not wait, tomorrow is another day you can always seek for love in a polite way," Hakiza said.
Police say they visited Divine Medical Centre to record Murungi's statement but she was unable to speak due to pain.
"Our officers went to the hospital to collect her statement, but of course they realised she was in a state of pain, so we are monitoring her once she is stable, we will go there and record her statement on what transpired so that we get more evidence that will pin Nyakatura on the charges of assault and attempted murder."
