Father poisons two sons to death after failing to secure job
Ms Racheal Kawala, the Wamala Regional Police Spokesperson
What you need to know:
- Wamala Regional Police Spokesperson, Ms Rachel Kawala, identified the victims as Thomas Bugembe, 6, and Praise Kabanda, 4. The children were found dead at the scene, with visible signs of poisoning, including frothy, foul-smelling substances flowing from their mouths.
Police in Kiboga District have arrested 41-year-old Thomas Mubi Aliwo for allegedly poisoning his two biological sons to death.
The tragic incident occurred on December 10, 2024, in Magi Village, Kapeke Sub-county, Kiboga District, around 6:30 pm.
Wamala Regional Police Spokesperson, Ms Rachel Kawala, identified the victims as Thomas Bugembe, 6, and Praise Kabanda, 4. The children were found dead at the scene, with visible signs of poisoning, including frothy, foul-smelling substances flowing from their mouths.
Investigations suggest their father, a resident of Kitukiro Village in Buyende District, committed the act due to frustration over his inability to secure employment.
"The preliminary findings indicate that Mubi had been solely caring for his two children after separating from their mother, who reportedly abandoned them and disappeared to an unknown location," Kawala stated.
She further explained, "Mubi left Buyende District with his children for Kayunga District in search of work but was unsuccessful. On December 8, 2024, he traveled to Hoima City hoping to secure a job with the help of his brother. However, upon arriving in Hoima, he failed to locate his brother, whose phone was unreachable. Frustrated and desperate, he left Hoima on December 10, traveling by boda boda to Kiboga District, where he stopped in Magi Village."
Reports indicate that Mubi entered a building belonging to one Betty Namuli without her knowledge and rested inside with his children. It is alleged that he poisoned his sons, leading to their instant deaths. Police believe Mubi intended to kill the children and flee the scene, prioritising his own survival over theirs.
Upon being alerted, police responded promptly to the scene. The children's lifeless bodies, showing visible signs of poisoning, were recovered. The area was cordoned off for investigation, and the bodies were transported to Kiboga Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination.
Ms Kawala confirmed the arrest of the suspect and noted that investigations are ongoing.
Uganda's national unemployment rate stands at 13 percent, according to the 2024 National Population and Housing Census (NPHC).
