However, in a sudden and deadly turn, Obonyo turned on his father and struck him repeatedly with sticks until he collapsed, dying a few minutes later on the way to the health facility.
A 45-year-old man was beaten to death by his own son while attempting to stop a domestic fight between the young man and his wife.
The tragic incident happened in Awei village in Atongtidi sub-county, Apac district, police have said.
The fatal incident occurred after 20-year-old Ronald Obonyo returned from a fishing expedition and accused his wife, Oliver Auma, of infidelity.
Obonyo reportedly launched a violent attack on Auma, prompting his father, Opio Robert, to intervene.
However, in a sudden and deadly turn, Obonyo turned on his father and struck him repeatedly with sticks until he collapsed, dying a few minutes later on the way to the health facility.
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Opio, a businessman, had just returned home from Agalala Trading Centre and was caught in the chaos.
“He died on the way to Aduku Health Centre IV,” said North Kyoga regional police spokesperson SP Patrick Jimmy Okema.
“The suspect fled the scene but was tracked down and rescued by police from a furious mob that wanted to lynch him. He is now in custody at Kwania Central Police Station.”
Police described the murder scene as volatile, with investigators initially met by hostility from residents, who were grieving and seeking vengeance.
“We are working with local leaders to calm tensions and prevent retaliatory violence. The level of force used in this incident was excessive,” Okema said.
A postmortem will be conducted at Apac General Hospital to determine the exact cause of death. Police have confirmed that Obonyo will face murder charges.
“This is not just a domestic issue, it’s a criminal act. A father has died at the hands of his son, this speaks to the danger of unresolved family conflict and toxic masculinity,” Okema said.
The tragedy adds to a troubling trend in the Lango sub-region, which continues to register some of Uganda’s highest levels of domestic violence.
Police data shows that in September 2023, a 14-year-old girl in Oyam District stabbed her father to death after witnessing a fight between her parents.
In 2018, a 22-year-old woman in Otuke District accidentally killed her father with a wooden plank while trying to break up a similar altercation.
According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report for 2024, North Kyoga region recorded 1,497 cases of domestic violence-more than any other region in the country.
Kwania District alone reported 386 incidents, placing it just behind Mityana, which topped the national list with 409 cases.
Police have urged communities to seek help before domestic tensions escalate into fatal violence.
“Couples should report threats and seek counseling or legal redress. Violence is not a solution-it only destroys families,” Okema added. “This family has lost a father, killed by his own son. It should never come to this.”