The prime suspect in the murder of Uganda Christian University (UCU) Dean of Students, Pamela Tumwebaze, has been taken back to the scene of the crime as part of a police reconstruction exercise aimed at establishing how the killing occurred.
Security agencies, including the Police, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), and the Joint Anti-Terrorism Taskforce (JATT), escorted the suspect, Hussein Dak Taewaiko, to Tumwebaze’s residence in Mukono District, where investigators sought to piece together the sequence of events leading to her death.
According to Police, the reconstruction was intended to verify the suspect’s account and clarify the exact circumstances surrounding the attack.
How the Suspect Allegedly Entered
Investigators established that Taewaiko had previously worked as a casual labourer at the deceased’s home for about six months before leaving in December 2025.
During the exercise, the suspect reportedly demonstrated how he approached the residence, knocked at the gate, and was denied entry.
“I scaled the perimeter wall and entered the compound without anyone noticing,” he reportedly told detectives.
Taewaiko further stated that he gained access to the house and hid in one of the rooms from about 1:00pm until around 10:00pm when Tumwebaze returned home.
According to his account, the deceased later left her bedroom to have a meal in the dining room, giving him an opportunity to move into the bedroom and conceal himself there.
Motive Under Scrutiny
The suspect told investigators that he intended to demand unpaid wages amounting to Shs800,000, which he claimed covered the period between September and December 2025.
However, sources close to Tumwebaze have cast doubt on this explanation, describing her as someone who paid her workers promptly and met her financial obligations.
Taewaiko allegedly told detectives that when he confronted her about the money, she threatened to raise an alarm, prompting him to strangle her.
Police have not publicly confirmed the motive and maintain that investigations are ongoing.
Arrest and Next Steps
Taewaiko was arrested in Budaka District after security agencies tracked him to a hideout. He was reportedly found in possession of a cellphone believed to belong to the deceased.
He is expected to appear before court later this week as prosecutors prepare to formally charge him.
