In a shocking revelation, the Ugandan police have exposed a sinister plot behind the gruesome murder of Dr. Jino Abiriga Jino, the former District Health Officer of Masindi. Police spokesperson Fred Enanga disclosed that the murder was not only premeditated but also involved a chilling conspiracy orchestrated by the widow, Betty Cheroti.
Investigations carried out by the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID), in collaboration with regional police teams and the Flying Squad, unveiled a multi-stage plot rooted in marital discord, jealousy, and suspicions of infidelity. According to Enanga, the motive behind the murder traced back to Cherotic Betty’s discovery of her husband’s second relationship with a woman named Atuhura Susan in Masindi.
The first attempt to eliminate Atuhura Susan involved setting fire to her house, thwarted by vigilant neighbors. Undeterred, Cherotic then allegedly hired a contract killer, Kipisang Martin, spending 2.5 million Ugandan Shillings for the job. However, the plot failed when the intended victim didn’t appear at the expected location.
Shifting her focus to her husband, Cherotic accused him of their firstborn’s death, the miscarriage of twins, and insults about her sexual performance. She allegedly enlisted Martin Kipiang to find another person to assist in the murder. On December 26, 2023, Kipisang, along with the newly recruited Joshua Namureng, attempted to carry out the murder, but the plan failed when the doctor woke up.
On January 6, 2024, the trio booked a room at Valentine’s Guest House, where Cherotic led them into the doctor’s bedroom. They brutally attacked him, cleaning the crime scene afterward, dressing the deceased in new clothing, and dumping the body outside the gate.
The suspects disposed of bloodstained clothes in a pit latrine at Valentine’s Guest House before leaving Masindi Municipality on January 7, 2024, for Bukwo. All three suspects, including Cherotic, Kipisang, and Namureng, have admitted their involvement in the murder.
“We reconstructed the crime scenes, recovered several exhibits, and submitted samples for forensic analysis,” stated Enanga. The recovered items include shoes of the deceased, clothes of the suspects worn on the day of the murder, and a bag retrieved from the latrine at Valentine’s Guest House containing a pillow cover, a moping rug, work ID for the deceased, and several other bloodstained clothes.
The tragic murder has left the community in shock as the details of the elaborate plot continue to unfold.
