The quiet stillness of Soroti’s outskirts was shattered at first light, as police closed in on a pair of women now accused of playing a chilling role in a murder that has gripped the region.
At around 5:00am on April 24, 2026 officers in East Kyoga moved swiftly, arresting two suspects whose alleged actions have deepened the mystery behind the brutal killing of Patrica Kokunda earlier this month.
For weeks, the April 3, 2026 shooting had cast a long, uneasy shadow over Soroti City. Now, investigators say the crime did not end with the gunshot that took Kokunda’s life, it continued in secrecy, silence, and a desperate attempt to erase the truth.
The two women, identified as 41-year-old Agnes Apolot and her mother-in-law Akello Salume, are accused of stepping in after the killing, allegedly helping to conceal the very weapon that ended Patricia’s life.
According to the police spokesperson, Rusoke Kituuma, the firearm was retrieved from their home and buried in a nearby garden, hidden beneath the soil in what authorities believe was a calculated attempt to obstruct justice.
But the story did not stay buried for long.
After fleeing their village in the days following the crime, the women were eventually tracked down and taken into custody. What followed was a dramatic turn in the investigation: detectives say the suspects cooperated, leading officers to yet another hidden cache, 18 rounds of ammunition stashed inside an empty engine oil container, tucked away in a grass-thatched kitchen structure.
Under questioning, the pair allegedly admitted to receiving the gun from the prime suspect, David Emenyu, also known as Olipong, and keeping it in their custody after the murder.
Their statements have tightened the net around what police now describe as a deeply entangled family affair.
Even more startling are revelations emerging about the family’s past. Preliminary findings point to a troubling pattern: the prime suspect’s father, Vincent Opolon along with his brothers Opali Justine and Isaac Opolon, are already behind bars at Kitalya Government Prison, facing charges of aggravated robbery.
Investigators are now examining whether this history is merely coincidental or part of a broader legacy of crime.
As the investigation intensifies, the recovered weapon and ammunition may prove crucial in piecing together the final moments of Kokunda’s life.
Meanwhile, Apolot and Akello remain in custody at Soroti Central Police Station, their fate now tied to a case that continues to unravel with each passing day.
