Tanzanian businessman to be hanged to death for wife’s murder

Dar es Salaam. The High Court has sentenced businessman Hamis Luwongo to death by hanging after finding him guilty of murdering his wife, Naomi Marijani.

The verdict was delivered on Wednesday, 26 February 2025, by Judge Hamidu Mwanga, who ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The ruling was based on the testimony of 14 witnesses and 10 pieces of evidence presented before the court.

Prior to sentencing, a team of two state attorneys, led by Principal State Attorney Yasinta Peter and assisted by Senior State Attorney Ashura Mnzava, urged the court to impose a severe punishment to serve as a deterrent against gender-based violence in marriage.

“The act committed by the accused was brutal and raises serious concerns for women in marriage and those intending to get married. We urge the court to impose a harsh sentence to deter men who use marriage as a cover for violence,” said Attorney Mnzava.

In criminal case number 44/2023, Luwongo, a resident of Gezaulole in Kigamboni District, was charged with murdering his wife on 15 May 2019. 

The court heard that he burned her body using two sacks of charcoal inside a chicken coop before burying the remains on his farm and planting banana trees over them.

The prosecution closed its case on 18 November 2024 after presenting 14 witnesses and nine pieces of evidence. The defence, however, closed its case a day later, calling only one witness—the accused himself—without submitting any additional evidence.

In his defence, Luwongo denied the charges, claiming his wife had run away and was still alive. He argued that his confessions to the police, in which he admitted to killing and burning her body before burying the remains, were false and made under duress.

He further claimed that the bone fragments he led the police to were not those of his wife but were from an animal carcass found while clearing his land. He alleged that forensic tests conducted by the Chief Government Chemist failed to provide conclusive proof that the remains belonged to his wife.

During proceedings, the prosecution requested a psychiatric evaluation of the accused. Dr Sadiki Mandari, a psychiatrist from Mirembe National Mental Health Hospital, initially presented a report suggesting Luwongo suffered from a mental disorder at the time of the crime. However, when summoned for questioning, Dr Mandari disowned the report, instead presenting a new assessment stating the accused was mentally sound at the time of the offence.

Judge Mwanga criticised the inconsistency, questioning why a professional would submit two conflicting reports in such a serious case. The accused also accused the doctor of damaging the reputation of his institution.

During further questioning, Dr Mandari admitted that a relative of the accused had contacted him about the initial psychiatric report. When asked whether he had informed the accused’s family about the new report, he admitted he had not.

Following deliberations, the court ruled in favour of the prosecution’s argument and sentenced Luwongo to death by hanging. The case has reignited discussions on gender-based violence and the legal measures in place to protect victims of domestic abuse.