A child was killed when a man attacked his father-in-law’s house in Kabarole

Police in Kabarole District are investigating the brutal murder of a child that occurred in the early morning hours of October 29, 2024 at Kakworo village in Hakibale Sub-County, where a 28-year-old man is accused of attacking the house of his 49-year-old father-in-law identified as Samuel Muhiigi.

The suspect, identified as Nazalio Kakana, is said to have hacked 12-year-old Susan Mary Kabjwika and her 7-year-old brother Peter Ampaire as he attacked them while they were sleeping.

Susan later died of panga wounds shortly after reaching Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, while Ampaire was still in critical condition as of Wednesday evening.

Rwenzori West Regional Police spokesperson, SP Vincent Twesige, said the incident likely stemmed from a long-standing family dispute that followed Kakana’s marital woes which led to arguments with his two wives.

Both wives are biological sisters.

“After Kakana’s disagreements with his wives, his elder wife divorced her, leaving behind her sister. Later, she too left him after a domestic disagreement, prompting the suspect to look for a younger wife of 15 years.

“But the suspect threatened to harm his in-laws over the divorce of his wives. Therefore, the deceased and the boy were defenseless as their mother was divorced,” the police noted.

At the time of the attack, Muhiigi and the victim were sleeping in the same room.

SP Twesige said officers from Hakibale Police Station, joined by a specialized team from Kabarole District Police Station, arrived at the scene but were yet to arrest the suspect.

“The victim had multiple fresh cuts on various parts of her body, including her head and hands, and also suffered complex fractures to her fingers and occipital bone. Additionally, a severe hematoma was found around the head, and the deceased’s clothes were soaked with blood. The bandages covering the head indicated an attempt, probably before the incident, to treat a head injury,” police suggested.

SP Twesige stressed that the bloodstained walls and bedding were evidence of a violent incident, and exhibits had been retrieved from the scene for further ongoing forensic investigations.

However, police are yet to recover the deadly weapon, which is believed to be a panga or a machete.

According to the 2023 Police Annual Crime Report, approximately 25 people die every day in Uganda as a result of murders or accidents.