Rwandan Woman Killed By Son Over Witchcraft Allegation

Police in Kabale District in western Uganda are investigating a case in which a 50-year-old Rwandan woman who has been living in the border village of Hakabungo, Mukarangye ward in Katuna town council was allegedly killed by her son who accused her of practising witchcraft following his new baby’s death. 

Before confirming that the alleged killer, one Benon Tumwesigye, had been detained pending trial, Elly Maate, the police spokesman for the Kigezi region, identified the deceased as Provia Busingye.

“It's alleged that Benon Tumwesigye separated from his pregnant wife some time back before she returned to her parent’s home in Rwanda.

"On Sunday, the wife gave birth to a dead child. 

"The suspect started accusing his mother of bewitching his estranged wife and that it’s the reason she gave birth to a dead child,” Maate said. 

On February 6 at around 2:00 pm, the suspect allegedly struck his mother in the head with a hoe as she was getting ready to go to Rwanda to attend her grandchild's funeral.

“After notification, detectives at Katuna police station rushed to the scene of the crime where the suspected killer was arrested, two blood-stained hoes were recovered as exhibits before taking the body of the deceased to Kabale regional referral hospital mortuary for postmortem,” Maate said.

Maate was perplexed as to why someone would choose to murder his mother over what he described as a "simple misunderstanding," even though he is the one who is meant to protect her.

When the investigation is completed, the suspect will be arraigned in court and charged with murder, according to police.