Shock in Dokolo: Widow Found Murdered After Repeated Death Threats Over Land Dispute

Dokolo, Uganda | Residents of Odeye Village, Adagnyeko Parish, are reeling after a widow in her 50s, Cidon, was found dead in her home on Thursday, two days after she was last seen alive.

Authorities have confirmed that the woman was strangled and sexually assaulted, raising alarm over family land disputes and threats she had reported but which went unaddressed.

Cidon had fled her marital home about two weeks earlier after receiving threats from her late husband’s brothers, who reportedly pressured her to either remarry within the family or leave the land she occupied.

She was brought back to the village by her brothers and had reported the threats to LC1 Ojede Maricelo, seeking protection.

According to Ojede, Cidon said that unidentified men repeatedly visited her home at night, speaking in Kiswahili, English, and sometimes translating their threats into Lango, warning her over land and marriage issues.

Her brothers confirmed her account.

In February 2026, Ojede held a meeting with Cidon and her brothers, advising her to raise alarms during threats, involve neighbours, report to the LC office, seek help from clan leaders, and report the threats to police.

Her brothers were instructed to ensure her safety.

Cidon was last seen on Tuesday and was discovered dead on Thursday around 4pm by her sister-in-law—the wife of her husband’s brother—and the latter’s daughter.

They had gone to invite her for cassava harvesting and forced open the door when she failed to respond to calls, finding her lifeless.

LC3 chairperson of Okwalongwen Sub-county, Okuta Peter, confirmed that Cidon had also reported the threats to the Atek Okweri Ibu clan leaders, but no action was taken.

Resident District Commissioner of Dokolo, Barbara Akech, said Cidon had reported the matter to Okwalongwen Police Post, who had advised her to return with witnesses so suspects could be summoned.

She did not follow up, and the clan leaders reportedly failed to act promptly.

Akech noted that Cidon had returned to her family home in Alebtong due to fear but came back to Dokolo recently to plant maize.

The postmortem confirmed she had been strangled and sexually assaulted.

Akech criticized the tendency in Lango for communities to take threats lightly, saying timely intervention could have prevented the tragedy.

She added that the deceased’s late husband’s brothers fled when police arrived at the scene, and no arrests had been made by press time.

The RDC has called on the community to provide information to help apprehend those responsible and urged anyone facing threats to ensure police are properly informed.

Akech also criticized the Atek Okweri Ibu clan leaders for failing to act on the threats despite being aware of Cidon’s situation.

Authorities have pledged to thoroughly investigate and bring those responsible to justice.