By Our Reporter
NATIONAL
Cherotich Betty is well known as Juliet at home.
The Masindi Chief Magistrates court on Tuesday remanded three suspects in the killing of the former District health officer (DHO) Masindi district, Dr Jino Abiriga, to Hoima government prison.
The remanded suspected killers are Betty Cherotich 31, late Dr. Abiriga’s wife, Joshua Namureng 36, a builder and a resident of Tarobya Village in Bukwo district, and Martin Kipsang 31, a carpenter and a resident of Roruk Village in Bukwo district. They were remanded after the murder charge was preferred against them.
Court presided over by Masindi Chief Magistrate, Kosia Kasibayo, heard that on January 7, 2024, the trio with others still at large connived, masterminded and brutally murdered Dr. Abiriga.
The Magistrate did not allow the suspects to enter any plea since the court had no jurisdiction to hear their case and remanded them to Hoima government Prison until July 30th, 2024 when they will reappear in court.
The trio was remanded to Hoima government prison after they declined to be remanded to Masindi government prison for security reasons.
The prosecution, led by Florence Akello, the Assistant Director in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for mid-western region, told court that the matter was still under investigations and requested the accused persons to be remanded as they finalize with investigations.
Dr. Abiriga was buried at his ancestral home in Tumvea village, Offude parish Tara Sub County in Maracha District on Friday last week.
WHO IS CHEROTICH
According to the sources close to her, Cherotich Betty was born in Kapkwata Forest Village, present-day National Park in Kwanyiy Sub County, as a second born in 1987.
Her mother is called Cheptenfan Lydia of the Arapkubai family from the Kapchemweny clan, and her father is called Chesuro of the Kaptaracha family from the Kapchebai clan, who passed away in 1988.
After the death of her father, the mother got married to Matayo, a resident of Kwanyiy from the Kamelkut Clan, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Moses, son of the Kapsume clan, from Cheburbei village in Kwanyiy Sub County.
She studied at a certain private nursery and primary school around Chekwasta Tuikat Sub County, sat for her PLE exams at Mere Primary School, joined Kapkwata Secondary School, and later sat for her UCE exams at Cheminy Standard High School. She passed very well but didn’t continue due to family financial instability.
After staying home for about five years without continuing with her studies, she got married through the take-away method in Kabukwo Tulel Sub County. Her marriage didn’t go as well as expected, so she left the marriage and went back to her mother’s home.
Later, she went back to school to pursue her certificate in medical records in Kampala, where she met with Mr. Abiriga Gino and started their relationship, which resulted in marriage, and they were blessed with one child after the deaths of twins.
According to sources, Mr. Abiriga Gino is said to have got a side dish from their Anglican church, and once she had her birthday, Dr. managed to surprise her with a brand new car as a birthday gift.
The doctor’s side dish has been insulting and undermining Cherotich Betty due to the love she possesses for the doctor.
