10-year-old boy kills father in Rukungiri

Police in Rukungiri District are investigating circumstances under which a 33-year-old man was allegedly killed by his family members.

The deceased has been identified as Pius Tugumisirize, a resident of Rwesigiro village, Kikarara Parish in Bwambara Sub-county, Rukungiri District.

According to Kigezi Region Police Spokesperson, Elly Maate, ‘‘the deceased developed a quarrel with his wife Ruth Owakubariho, 29, and he ended up badly hitting the wife with a hoe on the head. Ruth bled severely.’’

‘‘After the incident, Mr Tugumisirize reportedly ran into hiding, not knowing that his 10-year-old son had picked the same hoe that he had used to hit his wife, and followed him up.’’

Reports further indicate that Mr Tugumisirize's son met him in his presumed hideout and hit him on the head- leaving him for death on Sunday evening. 

Upon reaching home, the boy informed his family members about what he had done to his dad.

The family would then rush to Mr Tugumisirize’s hideout to pick and take him to a clinic at Kikarara where he died from, immediately after arrival.

Maate adds that as all this was happening, ‘‘the deceased’s wife went and reported a case of domestic violence- unaware that the son had followed and hit the father in revenge after an earlier domestic brawl between the couple.’’

Police visited the scene and did post-mortem while Owakubariho was also picked for questioning. Their son is now said to be on the run.

A case of murder by assault has been registered at Rukungiri Central Police Station under reference number CRB 1154/2021 as investigations proceed.