"They Said It Was Suicide, But the Evidence Spoke Otherwise" – Two Remanded Over Norwegian’s Murder Olima

Jinja Magistrate’s Court has remanded two suspects to Kirinya Prison over the murder of Robert Hausvik, a 39-year-old Norwegian national, after forensic evidence contradicted their claims of suicide.Hausvik, known as "Katongole" among friends, was found dead on March 10 at his rented home in Walukuba West, Jinja.

His girlfriend, Sheillah Nabatanzi, and friend, Ali Kigozi, initially reported that he had taken his own life, but police investigations revealed he was strangled.

The suspects appeared before Magistrate Yafesi Ochieng on March 21 but were not allowed to enter a plea since the court lacks jurisdiction over capital offences.

They will remain in custody until March 31, when the case will be mentioned again.

On March 10, Nabatanzi and Kigozi brought Hausvik’s lifeless body to Mivule Crescent Medical Centre in Jinja City, claiming he had hanged himself.

However, medical personnel confirmed he was already dead upon arrival and immediately alerted the police.

Kiira Regional CID, led by Detective SSP Monday Johnson Agaba, launched investigations.

The suspects told police that Hausvik had spent the evening at Bourbon Bar and Lounge with Nabatanzi before a heated argument led her to leave him behind.

When he returned home later, their quarrel reportedly continued until Nabatanzi went to bed, leaving him in the living room.

Kigozi claimed he later found Hausvik hanging from a pair of trousers tied to a structure in the house and rushed him to the clinic in an attempt to get help.

However, police found inconsistencies in their statements.

A postmortem by forensic pathologists, including AIGP Dr. Moses Byaruhanga, revealed that Hausvik had been strangled, ruling out suicide.

With this evidence, the Resident Senior State Attorney sanctioned the case file, leading to the arrest and arraignment of Nabatanzi and Kigozi.

Authorities are also searching for another suspect, Kigozi’s girlfriend, identified only as Zam Zam, who fled after the incident.

SSP Agaba warned against disguising homicides as suicides, emphasizing that forensic science can easily reveal the truth. "The evidence speaks louder than words," he said, reiterating the police’s commitment to justice.

The suspects remain in custody as investigations continue to uncover the motive behind Hausvik’s murder