Luwero priest sentenced to 12 years in prison for murdering wife

by · The Observer
Rev David Sekibaala

The High court in Luwero has sentenced a former Anglican cleric Rev. David Sekibaala to 12 years in prison for the murder of his wife, Deborah Nakalema, on November 8, 2020.

The sentence was handed down by justice Henrietta Wolayo after Sekibaala confessed to the crime and sought a plea bargain in exchange for a reduced sentence.

Nakalema was the headteacher of Kikamulo Church of Uganda Primary School in Nakaseke district. Sekibaala, 62, years initially denied the charges, but as the prosecution led by chief resident state attorney Peace Bashabe listed Sekibaala's own children, the LCI chairman and police detectives among others as witnesses ready to testify in the case, he confessed to the murder and applied for a plea bargain in exchange for a lenient sentence.

The court heard that Sekibaala first strangled his wife before setting her body on fire inside their house in Kavule zone in Luwero town council. He later ran to his brother where he reported the death of his wife and blamed it on a bomb explosion in their house before fleeing the murder scene.

He was later arrested and has been on remand in Nakasongola prison since November 19, 2020. Justice Wolayo sentenced Sekibaala to serve 12 years in jail saying that he was in advanced age, remorseful and didn't waste court time. She ordered the prison authorities to deduct the time Sekibaala had been on remand. he will now spend another seven years and 11 months in jail after the time on remand is deducted by prison authorities. 

He will serve the remainder of the sentence at Nakasongola prison. Sekibaala was chaplain at Buzzibwera Secondary School but he retired early over allegations of alcoholism and repeatedly assaulting his wife. The couple had been involved in a domestic dispute which the priests at St. Mark Cathedral tried to settle in vain. 

Cases of domestic violence are rampant in Luwero district. According to the police crime report, 534 cases of domestic violence were reported to police stations within the Luwero district in 2023 - the highest across the country.

There has been a steady increase in cases of domestic violence in the district - rising from 106 cases reported in 2019, 114 cases in 2020, 341 cases in 2021 and 501 cases in 2022.

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