Journalist murdered in cold blood – Husband arrested

By

Robert Ssewankambo

Police in Uganda have arrested a man in connection with the murder of a 23 year old freelance journalist, Scovia Anena, who was working with the Christian based radio station, Favor FM. Residents last week discovered Anena’s decomposing body lying in clotted blood in her rented house in Northern Uganda’s Gulu Municipality.

The Gulu District Police Commander, Martin Okoyo informed local press that Anena’s husband had been arrested in connection with the murder. “We have arrested one suspect in connection with her murder, it is her husband, and we have him in our cells as further investigations are going on. We arrested him from Gulu” Okoyo told local journalists. Sources have identified the suspect as Joel Kenneth.

A local journalist, who preferred anonymity, told press in Uganda that Anena’s body had a rope tied around her neck and onto a chair, with all things in her room scattered around, meaning that she must have put up a fight but was ultimately overpowered by her killer(s). The journalist said that Anena was sleeping alone in the house since her husband was working with an NGO in the Pader district and would return home at weekends. The source said that post-mortem examination results indicated that Anena sustained chest and lung injuries, pointing to the possible use of a blunt object on her. Anena was also said to have been pregnant with her first child.

News Editor at Anena’a employer,Favor FM, Caroline Ayugi told press that “Anena had last reported to work on Friday 12^th June and left after filing her stories. She went back okay after work, not (giving any) hint of any threats to her life.”

Robert Ssewankambo

Robert Ssewankambo is a Ugandan writer. Working currently on a freelance basis, he is a regular contributor to major newspapers in Uganda and electronic online magazines and media sources in Africa, such as the Bukedde newspaper, Hindered radio, Red Pepper, Eddobozzi newspaper and African Interest online.

For media enquiries, contact Robert at the following email address: [email protected]