Man kills children, commits suicide

Kamuli.

Shock gripped residents of Bukutu village in Bulopa Sub-county in Kamuli District after a man hacked two of his sons to death and committed suicide following a land dispute.

James Mukwajanga, 55, allegedly had a misunderstanding with two of his elder sons, who were against his decision to rent out three acres of family land to a sugarcane grower.

He had reportedly just returned from Kayunga District with another woman, Ms Monica Nanduga, 20, and her two children from another marriage. Mukwajanga is said to have wanted to rent out the piece of land in order to raise money for bride price for Ms Nanduga.

This was to be his third marriage after he lost his second wife with whom they had two children.

Last Tuesday, Mukwajanga reportedly told Ms Nanduga to sleep in an adjacent house with her two children as he wanted to spend the night with his other two children from his second marriage.

Ms Nanduga told this newspaper that Mukwajanga had told her that he wanted to teach the elder children a lesson before he retired to bed.

She said shortly later, she heard wild screams from Mukwajanga’s house and when she went out to investigate the matter, she saw smoke bellowing from the house. This prompted her to make an alarm that attracted neighbours.

The residents then forced the door open, only to find the two children, Alex Kintu, 4, and Allan Kintu, 6, hacked to death and their father dead too after committing suicide by hanging.

Preliminary police findings reveal that Mukwajanga initially tried to burn the children’s mattress as they slept, but later decided to hack them.

The Busoga North police spokesperson, Mr Michael Kasadha, confirmed the incident and said they are investigating the matter