Mityana policewoman killed in Gulu fight with boyfriend

A female police constable attached to Namukosi Police Station in Mityana District has been stabbed to death by her boyfriend in Gulu City, police said Thursday.

Number 82983 PC Harriet AKera is said to have been killed on Wednesday afternoon (April 23) in Library Cell in Bardege, Layibi Division, according to police who identified the suspect as Denis Brian Apire.

The two reportedly engaged in a bitter quarrel over their stalled love affair before it escalated into a fatal fight.

It is alleged that on April 21, 2026, Akera travelled from Mityana to meet Apire in Gulu City to discuss and settle issues about their affair. They met at Flamingo Guest House where they discussed and later separated.

However, it is reported that Akera later called Apire with whom she met again, an engagement that prompted a quarrel. The quarrel escalated into a physical fight before Apire pulled out a knife and stabbed the officer in the back.

Witnesses told police that Akera was stabbed after she made an alarm claiming Apire was a thief.

Members of the public who had been drawn by the alarm attempted to lynch Apire but he was rescued by the security operatives who intervened in time.

A report by Mr John Baptist Jalar, a clinical officer, indicates that Akera who was bleeding profusely was first rushed to Victory Health Centre for first aid and shortly transferred to St Mary`s Hospital, Lacor where she succumbed to her injuries.

Aswa West Police Spokesperson, David Ongom Mudong, said that Apire was detained and the knife recovered from the scene.

The two had reportedly been having an affair since 2023 until they developed misunderstandings.

Growing concern

In Uganda, fatal fights between lovers are primarily categorized and tracked under domestic violence and homicide in Uganda Police Force reports. Recent data and news reports highlights a concerning trend of "passion crimes" often linked to infidelity, property disputes, and domestic misunderstandings.

The Uganda Police Force released the 2025 Annual Crime Report on March 30, 2026, revealing that while overall crime in Uganda dropped by 10.2 per cent, domestic violence remains a persistent and critical threat.

A total of 12,361 domestic violence cases were recorded in 2025. This represents a 12.2% decrease compared to the 14,073 cases registered in 2024.

Despite the drop in overall volume, murders linked to domestic violence rose significantly. At least 208 lives were lost in 2025, a 13.7 per cent increase from the 183 deaths recorded the previous year.

Of the 208 domestic-related murder victims, 92 were adult females, 89 were adult males, and 27 were juveniles (14 boys and 13 girls).

Police identified family conflicts, economic stress, and unresolved property disputes as the leading causes of these violent incidents.

Regional and district hotspots

The North Kyoga region recorded the highest number of domestic violence murders at 28 cases, followed by Rwizi (19), Rwenzori West (16), and Aswa East (15).

Mubende, Kyenjojo, and Oyam each registered the highest number of fatalities at the district level, with 10 deaths each.

Police flagged Kakiri and Mbarara City North as new areas of concern for domestic violence incidents.

Notably, domestic violence was the fourth most common crime reported in 2025, following theft, common assault, and sex-related offenses. While sex-related offenses and defilement also saw decreases—down by 12.6 per cent and 14.8 per cent respectively—authorities noted that violent crimes within the home continue to require "urgent attention" and "sustained intervention".