Uganda: Woman Accused Of Killing Her Son Saved From Mob

A 34-year-old mother who is accused of killing her three-year-old son by stabbing him to death has managed to avoid being lynched after police intervened and saved her on Saturday at Vanguard Ward in Laroo-Pece Division in Gulu City, northern Uganda.

The suspect, a mother of three, is additionally charged with attempting to strangle her three-month-old daughter, who is currently in the hospital and critical condition.

Following a heated argument with her husband on Friday night, neighbours think the woman acted out of anger.

“They have always had public disagreements and fights. They had one last evening.

"I suspect this was the cause,” one of the suspect’s neighbours, Chris Otim said.

Otim claims that before calling her son inside on Saturday afternoon, the suspect had observed him playing with other kids in the neighbourhood.

It was discovered shortly after that she had fatally stabbed him.

She allegedly tried to drop her unconscious daughter in a pit latrine when she was stopped.

The infant was discovered with a neck injury before being taken to the hospital.

The suspect had already been attacked by irate neighbours when Andrew Nyeko, the LCI Chairperson of Vanguard Cell, arrived at the suspect's residence.

“I called the police. She (suspect) was also rushed to Gulu regional referral hospital where she is getting treatment for injuries she sustained from the beating," Nyeko said.

Nyeko stated that after learning about the incident, the suspect's husband fainted and was rushed to the same hospital.

"He is being treated at the hospital, as is his wife, who is in the Intensive Care Unit.

"I did not receive any complaints from either of them having family disputes," Nyeko explained.

At the time of filling this report, police officers led by Patrick Kidega, the OC Station, Gulu Central Police Station, were taking statements from witnesses and had sealed off the crime scene.