Masindi police arrests 35-year-old father for killing own daughter 

Police in Masindi is holding a 35-year-old man for allegedly killing his biological daughter.

It is alleged that Vincent Businge on Friday last week hit his daughter, Suzan Kiiza with a blunt object on the head for unknown reasons while they were in the garden harvesting maize in Nyakakoma village in Pakanyi sub-county. She became unconscious after sustaining a deep cut.

Locals say they saw Businge carrying the 10-year-old on his shoulder as she bled profusely from the head. They attempted to rush her to Masindi general hospital but she was pronounced dead on arrival at the health facility. Robinah Sekanabo, the secretary for women’s affairs for Nyakakoma village says after the demise of the child, area residents pounced on the father, arrested him and later handed him over to the police.  

David Bahemuka, the Nyakakoma village LC I chairperson says the suspect is always under the influence of alcohol, and that recently, he battered his wife who has since fled their marital home. Jane Atugonza, another resident says it is sad for such an innocent child to be brutally murdered by her own father, calling on the police to expedite investigations for justice to prevail.

Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson confirmed the arrest and detention of Businge, saying investigations have commenced. He says the body of the child was picked up and conveyed to Masindi general hospital mortuary for postmortem and later handed over to the relatives for burial. Hakiza says the suspect who is currently detained at Masindi central police station will be charged with murder once police investigations are done.

In December last year, police in Masindi arrested a 25-year-old man for allegedly torturing his child to death. The suspect was identified as Sharif Akugizibwe, a resident of Kisindi village in Kyakamese parish Pakanyi sub-county.   

Akugizibwe reportedly beat his one-year-old baby girl identified as Mercy Atulinde for unknown reasons. The child sustained serious injuries on the head, face, neck both hands, and chest. After the child’s condition deteriorated, the child was rushed to Masindi General hospital for medical attention but died on arrival.