Police kill machete-wielding dad to rescue son, 5

Mr Luke Owoyesigyire

What you need to know:

  • Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire said the incident happened at Kyebando, a city suburb, at around 11am on Saturday.

Police have rescued a five-year old child in a dramatic operation after they shot the father dead as he swung a machete to cut him over unknown reasons.

Suleiman Male, 28, armed with a machete, was holding his son, Isamu Male, 5, by the leg upside down, and was threatening to take the boy’s life when security personnel gunned him down.
Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire said the incident happened at Kyebando, a city suburb, at around 11am on Saturday.

“It is alleged that Male, a resident of Kisaasi and a craftsman, picked his only child Isamu Male from their home to Kisalosalo zone, Kyebando. Upon reaching Kyebando, he forcefully gained access to the house of a friend Ismail Ssesanga while wielding a machete,” Mr Owoyesigyire said.
All occupants in Ssesanga’s house fled to the nearby police station where they reported the case, according to a police report.

Mr Owoyesigyire said the security officers swiftly went to the scene and found when  Male had locked himself in one of the rooms.
“The officers talked to him to open the door and share with them the reason why he was threatening to kill his son, but he refused. The officers detected that the armed Male was about to take his son’s life and started a rescue mission,” he said.

According to police, the officers then hit the door and opened it after Male had picked the son by the leg and turned him upside down.
“The officers said Male was holding the son with one hand and the other he had a machete. He had swung the machete and was in motion to cut the boy when one of the officers shot him and dropped the child before he also collapsed,” he said.

The officers quickly removed the child on the ground as the injured suspect wailed in pain.
Mr Owoyesigye said the officers have handed over the child to the Police Child and Family Unit for care as investigations continue.