The recent resurgence of crimes of passions has raised alarm in society.
In the last month alone four Ugandans murdered their spouses over trivial matters as in the case Felix Okoth and Fahima Natooro.
The Uganda Domestic Violence Act 2010 defines domestic violence broadly to include physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, psychological, and economic abuse of a victim or anyone related to him/her.
The Act further states that harassing, harming, injuring or endangering the victim or anyone related to the victim for the purpose of coercing them into complying with “any unlawful demand for any property or valuable security” are also considered domestic violence.
Police Spokesperson Asan Kansigye says in their investigations police find that most of the couples usually have long term running issues for which they have not sought help.
According to the Annual Crime and Traffic/Road Safety Report 2013, there is a surge in crimes of passion
In 2012, 277 people were killed in aggravated domestic violence cases and in 2013, 360 crimes of passion were reported.
Kasingye says there is also an increasing trend of crimes of passion for financial gain. He cites incidences in Western Uganda where spouses have killed their partners to take over their property.
Kasingye says partners should look out for peculiar behavioral changes in their partners. And also ongoing domestic violence in relationships is a red flag that normally results in aggravated domestic violence.
However, police authorities never avail statistics of violence against men saying girls and women are the most victims of domestic violence.
