Man Kills Wife Over HIV Accusation, Then Commits Suicide in Bulaga

The people of Bulaga in Wakiso District are in shock after a tragic murder-suicide that took place on the night of April 11, 2025. A casual laborer named Mayanja Umar, aged 33, ended his life shortly after killing his partner, Namakula Sumaya, also known as Nakijjoba Jackie, aged 26.

The couple had been living together in a rented room near the Bulaga Daily Market along the busy Kampala–Mityana Road. Mayanja, who worked at the market, had reportedly separated from Namakula in recent weeks due to ongoing disagreements. However, they had just reunited a night before the tragic incident, after a reconciliation meeting organized by their landlady.

Witnesses say Namakula left her job at a local salon around 4:30 p.m. that day after Mayanja asked her to come home and pick money for supper. She left her phone behind and promised to return soon—but never came back.

Later that night, Mayanja told Namakula’s boss, Daisy, that they had gone to KFC for dinner and would be back late. But this was a lie. Namakula was already dead inside their room.

When police arrived at around 10:30 p.m. after reports of a suicide, they found Mayanja’s body hanging inside an unfinished building just meters away from the couple’s room.

Suspicion led neighbors and police to force open the door to his room, where they discovered Namakula’s lifeless body lying in a pool of blood, partially covered by a bedsheet.

Investigators believe Mayanja used a hammer and knives to kill her. They also found ropes in his room that he had bought earlier that same day indicating the act was planned.

One of Mayanja’s coworkers later revealed that he had previously spoken about killing any woman who infected him with HIV and then ending his own life. These haunting words now appear to reflect his state of mind before the crime.

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Police recovered recent HIV test slips in the room. The results showed Namakula had tested HIV positive, while Mayanja’s results were negative, fueling speculation that this discovery may have triggered the violence.

Community members have expressed fear and disbelief. “We now sleep in fear,” said a local barber, Mr. Kosima Wakiku, also known as ‘Rasta’. “How can someone we see every day do something like this?”

The bodies were taken to the city mortuary for postmortem examinations. Mayanja was buried on April 12 in Katosi, Mukono District, and Namakula on April 13 in Luweero District.

Police spokesperson SSP Patrick Onyango confirmed the deaths and said that investigations are still ongoing to find the full truth. He also urged the public to seek help when dealing with mental health or domestic relationship issues.

What started as an ordinary evening in a lively town has left lasting scars on the hearts of the Bulaga community.