A 24-year-old woman, involved in a “love triangle”, has been charged in court and remanded to prison on suspicion of setting fire to an apartment in Kampala, Uganda, which resulted in the deaths of two people.
Susan Kaitesi was charged with two charges of murder and one count of arson when she appeared before the Nabweru Chief Magistrate’s Court.
She is suspected of setting her cousin Patricia Arinda, 24, and her lover Ivan Lukonge, 27, on fire in what the police called a “love triangle.”
The incident took place on January 12, 2023, in the Kampala District’s Nabweru Kawempe Division’s Jinja Karoli Zone “A” Ward.
The victims were allegedly locked up by Kaitesi in her apartment’s bedroom before it was set on fire.
The perpetrator is alleged to have fled the blaze while yelling to everyone nearby that a gas explosion had occurred.
Meanwhile, the bedroom was locked when the police rescue squad and neighbors arrived. They found two corpses when they broke into the bedroom. The bedroom keys were missing, but the gas stove was still in good condition.
The suspect was not permitted to enter a plea during her appearance before the court’s acting chief magistrate Arthur Ziraba as the court lacks the authority to hear her case.
“Kaitesi Susan on January 12, 2023, at Jinja A Kawempe Nabweru Division Wakiso District, with malice a forethought unlawfully caused the death of Lukonge Ivan and Arinda Patricia and also set fire to a house, the property of Sanyu Grace George,” part of the charge sheet reads.
The prosecution’s senior state attorney, Ms. Sheron Sarah Nambuya, informed the court that the police investigation into the crime is still ongoing and pleaded with the court for more time.
“I pray that this court adjourns the matter as we conclude the investigations,” she said.
As a result, the magistrate postponed the court hearings until March 1, 2023.
“You have a right to apply for bail as it’s your constitutional right but not in this court. Your application will be heard by the High Court since this lower court has no mandate to hear such capital offences,” the magistrate said.
