On April 5th this year, Amanya Maclean lost her life as a result of brutal beatings allegedly inflicted by her husband, Innocent Amwiine. Before she died, Amanya gave a clear and heartbreaking declaration: she had been violently assaulted by her husband \u2014 not just once, but over the years. This dying testimony alone is sufficient grounds for serious police action. Yet, Innocent Amwiine, a senior official and NRM district registrar for Ibanda, remains on the run.
Authorities must act decisively. No political power or position should shield anyone from the law. The failure to apprehend Amwiine sends a dangerous message \u2014 that even murder can be overlooked if the perpetrator is well connected.<\/p>\n
A Pattern, Not a One-Off
Amanya\u2019s killing was not an isolated incident. It followed years of abuse \u2014 a reality that\u2019s all too familiar in cases of domestic violence. Attempts to blame the final beating on rumors of infidelity only serve to distract and justify violence. There is no excuse for beating a woman. The focus must remain firmly on the crime: the systemic abuse that ended in her death.
Even though a postmortem from Kampala International University Teaching Hospital mentioned a spinal disease, this cannot erase her own words or the bruises of a long history of domestic abuse. Her testimony should prompt a full investigation into what truly caused her death.<\/p>\n
Where Is the Justice?
Since April, journalists and women\u2019s rights activists have called for justice. Yet, updates from police investigations are non-existent. The public is waiting. Women are watching. And Amanya\u2019s family \u2014 along with many others \u2014 continues to suffer in silence, waiting for accountability that feels increasingly unlikely.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s Make This an Elections Issue
Femicide and domestic violence are rising \u2014 and yet, they remain largely absent from political campaigns. The upcoming elections must change this.
Political candidates across all parties must put domestic violence prevention and women\u2019s safety at the center of their manifestos. They should use their platforms to:
\u2022 Educate the public about the devastating effects of domestic violence,
\u2022 Commit to tangible measures to support survivors,
\u2022 Ensure law enforcement treats gender-based violence with the seriousness it deserves,
\u2022 Encourage communities to report abuse, even when victims are too afraid to speak out.
Had someone intervened in Amanya\u2019s case, she might still be alive.<\/p>\n
This Isn\u2019t Just About Amanya
The names of women lost to domestic violence continue to grow:
\u2022 Akakanda Rita (May 2025)
\u2022 Bashaba, 49, and her daughter Ainembabazi Ruth, 18 (January 2024)
\u2022 Judith Kyarisima, a midwife (September 2024)
\u2022 Ninsiima Phonah, 22
These women deserve to be remembered. Their deaths should spark more than mourning \u2014 they should drive change.<\/p>\n
No One Is Above the Law
Amwiine\u2019s high-ranking position makes this case a litmus test for the NRM and the Ugandan justice system. Will they uphold the law, or protect their own?
Amanya\u2019s death must not be in vain. Justice for her \u2014 and for all women \u2014 depends on political will, public pressure, and unwavering accountability.<\/p>\n
A Final Plea to Women
To our sisters: if you are in a violent relationship, please, leave. Before it\u2019s too late. You are not alone, and your life is worth saving.<\/p>\n