By Our Reporter
A chilling double homicide in Lugonjo, Entebbe Municipality, has sent shockwaves through the community, as fresh details suggest a bitter inheritence feud may have driven the murder of an elderly couple just hours after their homecoming celebration.
David Mutaaga, 69, and his wife Deborah Florence Mutaaga, 62, were found brutally murdered inside their home in Lugonjo Nakiwogo Cell on the morning of July 7. The couple had only recently returned to Uganda from Germany, where they had lived for over 30 years. Their return had been marked with joy, including a welcome party attended by neighbors and friends the night before their bodies were discovered.
According to early police findings, the scene indicates a calculated and stealthy break-in. Investigators believe the killer gained entry by scaling the perimeter wall before tampering with the asbestos roofing above the master bedroom. The window to the room had been shattered—pointing to a premeditated attack rather than a spontaneous robbery.
“The main gate was found unlocked, and there were visible footprints and material evidence around the house,” a source close to the investigation told this publication. “This suggests the assailant knew the home’s layout and may have even been familiar to the victims.”
CCTV footage from the residence has been secured and is currently undergoing analysis. Forensic teams have also collected latent fingerprints and other physical clues which, sources say, may soon lead to a breakthrough.
Curiously, nothing of significant value was stolen from the house—an observation that has shifted the investigation’s focus away from robbery and toward deeper, more personal motives. Authorities are now pursuing a strong lead that the killings may be linked to a longstanding family conflict over inheritance of family property.
“There were recent tensions within the family concerning the division of estates left by a late relative,” a senior investigator, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed. “We believe this dispute may have reached a deadly climax.”
The tragedy is further complicated by logistical and legal wrangles in the aftermath. The Mutaagas’ children, who live abroad and are foreign citizens, have been unable to immediately return to Uganda. As a result, disagreements have surfaced among extended family members over who should oversee funeral arrangements and the couple’s estate.
Residents of Lugonjo have been left devastated. Many described the couple as warm, humble, and generous—pillars of the community who were excited to spend their retirement years in Uganda.
“We danced with them just the other night. They were so happy to be home,” said a teary neighbor. “Now we’re mourning. It’s just heartbreaking.”
With forensics closing in on a suspect believed to be known to the victims, detectives remain confident that arrests are imminent. As the investigation continues, the Mutaaga case now stands as a grim reminder of how unresolved family disputes can spiral into deadly consequences.
Authorities have urged anyone with relevant information to come forward, promising full protection for whistleblowers as they work to bring the perpetrators to justice.