Husband on the Run After Allegedly Stabbing Wife to Death Over Suspicious Phone Photos in Lira

Police in Lira District are searching for Bonny Olungu, accused of fatally stabbing his 39-year-old wife Evaline Atoo on February 26, 2026, in Alit village after a dispute over photos on her new smartphone.

Police have launched a manhunt for Bonny Olungu, wanted for the alleged murder of his 39-year-old wife, Evaline Atoo, in a violent domestic incident that unfolded Thursday evening in Alit village, Awiodyek sub-county.

North Kyoga Regional Police spokesperson Jimmy Patrick Okema confirmed the suspect fled the scene immediately after Atoo succumbed to a single stab wound below her left rib cage. Olungu remains at large, with intelligence-led operations underway to track him down.

The tragedy began over a seemingly ordinary family moment. Atoo, a peasant farmer from Apingmo parish, had recently acquired a smartphone on loan. She handed it to her son, Gilbert Okori, and his friend Solomon Anyap to buy data and download music. Once done, the phone was passed to Olungu.

When Atoo returned from fetching water and asked for her device back, Olungu refused. Upon unlocking it, he reportedly discovered photos of two men. Atoo explained they were her son and his friend, but police say Olungu dismissed the claim and became enraged.

In the ensuing confrontation, Olungu allegedly smashed the phone on the ground. As Atoo reached to retrieve it, he reportedly seized it first and stabbed her with a knife. Witnesses described how she collapsed in a pool of blood. Her son’s attempt to intervene was met with resistance from Olungu, until neighbors stepped in to separate them.

Atoo was rushed to Emmanuel Medical Clinic in Corner Amach, owned by clinical officer Morris Okello, but was pronounced dead on arrival. The murder case was first registered at Wiodyek sub-county police station before being transferred to Lira Rural Central Police Station for deeper investigation.

A homicide team, scenes-of-crime officers, and local police visited the site, documenting evidence and recovering the suspected murder weapon—a knife—which has been exhibited. Statements from witnesses have been recorded, and Atoo’s body was taken to Lira Regional Referral Hospital mortuary for postmortem examination.

Okema urged the public to provide any information leading to Olungu’s arrest and appealed directly to the suspect: “We advise him to hand himself in at the nearest police station for statement recording and to face the legal process.”

This incident adds to growing concerns over domestic violence in northern Uganda, where disputes—often fueled by jealousy, economic stress, or misunderstandings—escalate tragically. Police continue to call for calm in the community while intensifying efforts to bring the suspect to justice.