A quiet village in West Nile has been left in shock and sorrow after a woman who had gone to her garden early Wednesday morning was later found dead under unclear circumstances.
According to SP Collins Asea, the West Nile regional police spokesperson, the deceased — whose identity has been withheld pending family notification — was last seen at around 7am leaving her home, as she routinely did, to tend to her garden located a short distance from her compound.
“She left home with her tools and was seen by neighbours passing by the footpath to the garden,” said SP Asea. “When she did not return by midday, her family grew worried.”A search by family and concerned villagers began shortly after noon.
Tragically, her lifeless body was discovered later in the afternoon near a thicket close to her garden. The scene was immediately cordoned off, and police were called in to begin investigations.SP Asea confirmed that detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and a forensic team had been dispatched to examine the area and gather evidence.
While the cause of death remains unknown, authorities are not ruling out foul play and have urged the public to remain calm as investigations continue.
The news has devastated the small farming community. Friends described the deceased as a quiet, hardworking woman who kept to herself and had no known enemies.
“She was just going to dig, like always. We can’t believe this happened,” said one tearful neighbour.
The body was transported to Arua Regional Referral Hospital for a postmortem examination. Police have urged anyone with relevant information to come forward.
As the community mourns, one thing remains clear: they want answers and justice.