Mother arrested for gruesome murder of her 3 children

The family says she left her home in Kibaale with her children on the August 20 and returned to her parents’ home in Buhimba sub county in Kikuube for treatment of her mental illness.

Police says she stayed with her 3 children at her fathers’ home until the August 24 when she moved into her brother's home. The following day, she picked a machete and hacked all her 3 children, instantly killing Ahumuza Praise, a 5-year-old boy.

"The other two children namely; Wemigisha Faith, a 3-year-old female toddler and Tumukugise Peace an 11-month-old baby boy were rushed to Hoima Referral Hospital, in critical condition, where they eventually died. Our prayers go out to the family of the 3 victims, who are going through a very traumatic grief process," Police Spokesman Fred Enanga says.

Enanga adds, "The killer mother was immediately arrested by her father, who took her to Hoima Police Station for custody. The blood stained panga was recovered from the scene and exhibited and post-mortem for the 3 deceased children conducted. The suspect was interviewed and gave a very clear account of how she murdered her 3 children. She was further examined on medical grounds and found to be fully conscious, oriented but with abnormal behaviour. The psychiatric forensic report is pending."

The gruesome incident has raised concerns about the mental health of people in communities, and increased calls for counselling, especially for persons under conditions of stress, depression, sadness, fear, anxiety or other mental health impacts.