Police Probe Killing of South Sudanese Refugee Woman in Uganda

(YUMBE DISTRICT, UGANDA) – Ugandan police have launched an investigation into the killing of a 34 year old South Sudanese refugee woman whose body was found on Wednesday evening in a garden in Buya Village, Oluba Parish, Odravu Sub-county, Yumbe District.

The deceased, identified as Faima Chetima, was a resident of Village 05, Zone 05, in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement. She had reportedly left for her garden early in the morning but did not return home, raising concerns among her family.

At around 8:00 pm, relatives and local residents began a search and found her lifeless body in the garden where she had been working. She was discovered lying in a pool of blood.

According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Asea Collins, the Public Relations Officer for the North West Region, homicide detectives and Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO) responded immediately.

Preliminary findings revealed multiple visible cut wounds on the body. A heavy stone, bearing traces of blood, was recovered near the scene and is believed to have been used in the attack.

The body has been transferred to Yumbe Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Police say they are treating the case as murder and that the search for the suspect or suspects is ongoing.

SP Asea Collins urged anyone with information to come forward, stressing that cooperation from the community was essential to help identify those responsible.

“The motive behind the killing is not yet clear. We are working closely with the refugee community and local leaders to gather leads,” he said.

The Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, one of the largest in the world, hosts hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese who fled conflict back home.