The Jinja Magistrate’s Court has remanded two suspects to Kirinya Prison in connection with the murder of a 39-year-old Norwegian national, Robert Hausvik, commonly known as "Katongole" among his friends and the local community.
Sheillah Nabatanzi, the deceased’s girlfriend, and Ali Kigozi, his friend, were arraigned before Jinja Magistrate Yafesi Ochieng on Friday, March 21.
However, they were not allowed to take a plea, as the magistrate’s court lacks the jurisdiction to hear capital offences.
The two will remain in custody until March 31, when they will reappear in court for mention of the case.
The case came to light on March 10 when a medical team from Mivule Crescent Medical Centre in Jinja City alerted police about a lifeless body that had been brought to the facility by Nabatanzi and Kigozi.
Medical personnel confirmed that the Norwegian national was already dead upon arrival and immediately informed law enforcement.
Upon receiving the report, the Kiira Regional Criminal Investigations Department (CID), led by Detective Senior Superintendent of Police Monday Johnson Agaba, dispatched a team of senior homicide detectives to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death.
Initial statements from the suspects suggested that Hausvik had taken his own life in the early hours of March 10 at his rented residence in Walukuba West, Block C, Maternity Cell, Jinja Southern Division.
According to Nabatanzi and Kigozi, the deceased had spent the previous evening at Bourbon Bar and Lounge in Jinja City with Nabatanzi.
The couple allegedly engaged in a heated argument, prompting Nabatanzi to leave for home alone.
Later that night, Hausvik returned, and the quarrel reportedly continued until Nabatanzi went to bed, leaving him in the living room.
The following morning, Kigozi allegedly found Hausvik hanging from a pair of trousers tied to a structure in the house.
The suspects claim they rushed him to Mivule Crescent Medical Centre in an attempt to get medical assistance.
However, upon visiting the scene in Walukuba and conducting preliminary investigations, Police found inconsistencies in the suicide narrative.
Authorities transferred the body to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital mortuary before later moving it to Mulago National Referral Hospital for a thorough forensic examination.
According to Kiira region Police spokesperson James Mubi a team of seasoned pathologists, including AIGP Dr. Moses Byaruhanga, the Uganda Police Director of Medical Services, and Dr. Moses Ambayo, conducted a postmortem examination.
Their findings confirmed that Hausvik had died due to strangulation, ruling out suicide and classifying the case as murder.
With this new evidence, the Resident Senior State Attorney (RSSA) sanctioned the case file, leading to the arrest and subsequent arraignment of the two suspects.
Meanwhile, Police are actively searching for another key individual, Kigozi’s girlfriend, identified only as Zam Zam.
She fled following the incident and is now a wanted person. Authorities are urging the public to provide any relevant information regarding her whereabouts.
SSP Monday Johnson Agaba has cautioned couples and the public against disguising homicides as suicides, emphasizing that forensic investigations can easily distinguish between the two.
He reiterated the police’s commitment to pursuing thorough and prosecution-guided investigations to ensure justice for the deceased.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to establish the motive behind the murder.
The two suspects remain in custody at Kirinya Prison, awaiting their next court appearance.