The Police in Greater Masaka Region in Kalungu District are holding a 37-year-old man who allegedly poisoned himself and three of his children. Fred Enanga, the Police spokesperson says that two of the children died instantly whereas one of them was rescued before she had died.
Enanga has identified the suspect as George Ssenyondo, a peasant who is currently admitted at Kyamuliibwa Health Centre IV following the injuries he sustained as a result of attempted suicide.
According to police, Ssenyondo allegedly killed his two children, aged 5 and 3 years respectively, and attempted to murder the third one.
“As you are all aware, on the September 2, 2023, at around 11:00am, the village chairperson of Lwanume “A” village, Kigasa parish, Kyamulibwa sub-county in Kalungu district, Mutebi Akaya, reported an incident, where two dead bodies, of a male and female juvenile, were abandoned under a mango tree, at Lwanume Catholic Church. A third female juvenile, aged 2 years clad in a red – white dress was found alive and crying, under the same mango tree,” Enanga said in a police press statement.
He adds: “The police at Kyamulibwa in Kalungu district, built on the information received and traced the origin of the deceased children and the victim. The father of these children who is the prime suspect, behind their double murder and attempted murder, was identified as Ssenyondo George of Church ward in Lwengo Town Council in Lwengo District.
The suspect had a domestic misunderstanding with his wife, Namirimu Florence from Lwengo and forcefully took their children from her. He transported them to their grandmother’s place, in Kalungu but she refused to take them over due to limited means of survival. She therefore advised her son to take them to their grandfather’s home.”
Enanga says that it is during that process that the suspect developed a motive of killing his children and taking his life afterwards.
“Therefore, he killed two of the children, Namateregga Tina, aged 3 and the other only identified as Jorum aged 5. The survivor was identified as Nakabingo Fiina, aged two years. She was medically examined and found to be out of danger and handed over to the Home Free NGO at Lukaya for proper care,” he revealed.
The suspect, Ssenyondo is currently being guarded by Police on his hospital bed at St. Joseph’s Kyamuliibwa Health Centre IV, where he is getting treatment, pending prosecution after gaining his consciousness.
Enanga said that upon recovery, Ssenyondo will be charged with two counts of murder and one of attempted murder.
“As the police, we strongly condemn such cruel and inhuman acts of violence, which have no justification whatsoever. It shows how children are at great risk, even in the hands of their father, who was supposed to keep them safe. We continue to call upon the public that if you are at risk of domestic violence or abuse, please call the Child and Family Protection Unit on 0800199195 for support,” he appealed.
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