LIRA, Uganda – The Territorial Police in Lira District have launched a manhunt for a man accused of fatally stabbing his wife following a domestic dispute over a mobile phone on Thursday evening.
The suspect, identified as Olungu Bonny, is wanted for the murder of his wife, Atoo Evaline, a 39-year-old peasant farmer. According to a police statement released on Friday, the incident occurred on February 26, 2026, at around 8:30 PM in Alit Village, Awiodyek Sub-county, although the report was officially filed later that night at 9:47 PM.
Details provided by the police reveal a tragic chain of events that began when the victim handed her newly acquired phone—obtained on loan—to her son and his friend to download music. After the task was completed, the phone was reportedly given to the suspect.
Preliminary investigations indicate that when Ms. Atoo returned from fetching water and asked for her phone back, her husband refused to hand it over. The situation escalated when the suspect allegedly accessed the phone, saw photographs of two men on it, and smashed the device on the ground in a fit of rage.
As the victim attempted to pick up the damaged phone, the suspect allegedly grabbed it first and stabbed her with a knife below the left rib cage. When the victim’s son tried to intervene, the suspect reportedly turned on him as well, but bystanders managed to separate them.
The victim was rushed to Emmanuel Medical Clinic in Amach but was pronounced dead on arrival.
"The suspect reportedly fled from the clinic immediately after realizing that the victim had succumbed to her injuries and remains at large," said SP Patrick Jimmy Okema, the Public Relations Officer for the North Kyoga Region, in the statement.
Police have since visited the scene, documented evidence with the help of Scenes of Crime Officers (SOCO), and recovered the suspected murder weapon. The body of the deceased has been taken to Lira Regional Referral Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination.
"The Police strongly condemn all forms of domestic violence and urge members of the public to resolve domestic disputes amicably and seek lawful intervention where necessary," SP Okema added.
Authorities are appealing to the suspect to surrender at any police station and are asking anyone with information on his whereabouts to come forward.
Inquiries are ongoing.
