The High Court in Wakiso has sentenced Boniface Bagabo to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of murdering his wife, Shalot Ngabire.
The sentence was delivered on Thursday, May 21, 2026, by Lady Justice Sarah Langa Siu following a successful prosecution by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
While delivering the sentence, Justice Sarah Langa Siu stressed the importance of the rule of law in protecting the sanctity of the family, noting that homes should never become places where spouses are victimised.
According to court records, the incident occurred on the night of January 10, 2021, when Bagabo was at home with his wife and their two children.
One of the children reportedly woke up after hearing her mother crying for help and pleading for forgiveness before suddenly going silent.
Prosecution evidence showed that Bagabo later called neighbours seeking help and claimed that his wife had slipped and fallen in the bathroom. However, when neighbours and police officers arrived at the scene, they found Ngabire lying on the bathroom floor with severe bruises and visible marks around her neck.
The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence to prove that Ngabire had been strangled to death and that Bagabo had a history of violence towards his wife.
Court heard that investigators meticulously documented the crime scene, secured DNA evidence and other exhibits, and collected witness testimony that helped reconstruct the events leading to the killing.
During sentencing submissions, prosecutors asked court to impose a life sentence, citing several aggravating factors, including the gruesome nature of the murder, the fact that it was committed in the presence of the couple’s children, alleged premeditation, attempts to conceal evidence, previous incidents of violence against the victim, and the emotional impact on the children and extended family.
After considering both aggravating and mitigating factors, the court upheld the prosecution’s request and sentenced Bagabo to life imprisonment.
The ODPP said the conviction demonstrates its continued commitment to protecting vulnerable victims, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring accountability for grave offences.
The prosecution was led by Senior State Attorney Anthony Wamibu and State Attorney Precious Atuhaire from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
