Police in Kigezi region, western Uganda, have arrested a mother and her two children for the alleged brutal murder of her husband.

The mother and her children, who reside in Nyakisenyi Sub-County, are accused of conspiring to kill their father, 53-year-old Byamukama Vincent, over family misunderstandings that led to the deceased chasing them away.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that on 4th June 2024, the deceased — who was an alcoholic — returned home drunk and chased his wife Mutesigensi Everino, 44, his 19-year-old daughter Nishaba Hildah and his six-year-old grandson, Ainamani Wilbroad, from his home.

“The victims sought refuge in the neighborhood and could sneak into the home, when the husband/father was drinking in the trading centre, cook their food and go back to the neighborhood. It was unfortunate that on 8th June 2024, they sneaked into the home to cook, but found the victim at home, who chased and threatened to cut them with a panga,” a police report says.

It is reported that this time round, the disgruntled family waited for the man to fall asleep up to around 11 pm. “They entered the house and picked his panga by the bedside which they used to hack the victim around the neck, killing him instantly.”

Police say that after killing him in cold blood, the suspects carried the deceased’s body on his mattress and burnt it within the main house. They later dumped the remains of the body in the toilet and demolished it.

But after realising his absence, relatives of the deceased piled pressure on the family to reveal the whereabouts of their brother.

The suspects would later tell the concerned relatives that Byamukama fell and died in their pit latrine. They mobilized and excavated the toilet and retrieved the human skull and other body remains of the victim.

A walking stick and burnt mattress pieces were recovered from the scene.

The three suspects — Mutesigensi Everino (the widow), Akanyijuka Moses, a 21-year-old son, and Ninshaba Hildar a 19-year-old daughter — are scheduled to appear in court.

“We strongly condemn such brutal acts of violence within domestic settings. No excuse can justify the savagery committed by the suspects. Murders in domestic settings are avoidable if the warning signs of violence are detected early. Our dedicated Child and Family Protection Officers are always available and will attend to all victims,” Uganda Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga says.