KAMPALA, Uganda: Police are investigating an attack in which two children were killed and three others injured at Kalungu Bunga, Ggaba Parish, Makindye Division, Kampala District, in the early hours of Thursday.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Public Relations Officer ASP Luke Owoyesigyire said the incident was reported to Kabalagala Police Division and occurred at about 4 a.m.
According to Owoyesigyire, a housemaid was alerted by an alarm and cries for help from children in the main house. “She went to check what was happening and found several children with serious injuries,” Owoyesigyire said.
The maid then opened the house and discovered that the children had sustained severe stab wounds, according to the police spokesperson. Owoyesigyire said 14-year-old Khadija Daizy was found dead in her bedroom. “Another child, Hawa Dalena, aged seven, later died while receiving treatment at Nsambya Hospital,” he said.
Three other children, aged 13, eight and five, survived the attack and were taken to hospital for treatment, Owoyesigyire said. Police have identified a 43-year-old Kenyan national, Namayo Dorothy, described as the mother of the children, as a suspect in the incident.
Owoyesigyire said the suspect was also found injured and is currently admitted to Mulago National Referral Hospital under police guard. The attack was also followed by a fire at the premises in which a Toyota Hiace vehicle was completely destroyed. “Police Fire Prevention and Rescue Services responded and extinguished the fire,” Owoyesigyire said.
He added that investigators recovered a jerrycan suspected to have contained petrol from the scene. Owoyesigyire said police immediately deployed homicide detectives, Scene of Crime Officers and fire and rescue personnel to examine and document the scene. “Exhibits were recovered from the scene for forensic examination,” he said.
The bodies of the two deceased children were taken to Mulago City Mortuary for postmortem examinations, according to Owoyesigyire. He said police had registered the case at Kabalagala Police Division and were investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the motive behind the attack.
“Statements have been recorded from the person who reported the incident and other relevant witnesses,” Owoyesigyire said. He added that the suspect remains under police guard as investigators continue with inquiries into the incident.