crime 26 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Butaleja Mother Kills Self After Hacking Two Young Children
A 32-year-old farmer in Butaleja District hacked her two infant children with critical neck injuries before ingesting poison and dying. The tragic incident stemmed from a domestic dispute after her husband abruptly left home. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/mother-hacks-two-children-before-taking-own-life-5437148
A devastating family tragedy unfolded in Hahola Village, Mulagi Parish, Busaba Sub-County, Butaleja District, where 32-year-old farmer Rebecca Mula attacked her children, 2-year-old Betani Baluka and 8-month-old Gabriella Namudumba, with a knife on Saturday evening.
The attack followed a heated dispute with her husband, Benjamin Wanamerie, a teacher at Busolwe Secondary School, who had left home unexpectedly the previous evening after dinner and returned the next day, leaving her outraged.
Before the incident, Mula contacted her brother-in-law, threatening to harm herself and the children. He informed the children’s grandmother, who arrived to find the infants in pools of blood with deep neck cuts and Mula unconscious nearby.
Neighbors responded to the alarm, rushing the victims to Busolwe Hospital, where Mula died shortly after arrival. The children remain hospitalized in critical condition.
Bukedi South Regional Police Spokesperson IP Moses Mugwe confirmed police visited the scene, recovering a blood-stained knife and clothes. A case of attempted murder and attempted suicide is registered at Butaleja Police Station under CRB 150/2026.
The couple had a history of domestic violence, amid broader national trends: Uganda Police reported 710 child abuse cases in 2025, down 9.7% from 787 in 2024, and 12,361 domestic violence cases, down 12.2% from 2024. Common triggers include family disputes, neglect, substance abuse, and infidelity.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)