Father arrested for suspected murder of 6-year-old child after family dispute

By The Inspirer.

Innocent Uwase, a member of the DASSO in Gatsibo District, is under suspicion for killing his 6-year-old child and disposing of the body in a latrine. The case came to light following a family dispute, and Uwase is now being pursued by justice authorities.

Residents of Mafu village in Muhura Sector believe their neighbor, Uwase, may have murdered his child, who had been living with the child’s paternal grandmother.

The child had been missing for nine months, and the case was brought to light after family tensions led to a confrontation between Uwase and his sister, during which she claimed he had previously harmed the child and intended to do so again.

In an interview with Imvaho Nshya, Agatagara Village leader Rusagara Frederic provided further details.

He explained, “The missing child belonged to Uwase Innocent, who had separated from the child’s mother and moved to the South, leaving the child with the paternal grandmother. When Uwase returned to collect the child for school, the grandmother rejected him. The child was sent back to his mother’s home, which led to the family notifying the police that the father had abandoned the child. However, Uwase asked for time to bring the child back.”

“After returning the child, it appears he said, ‘Instead of letting me suffer, let’s get rid of him.’ The child went missing in May of last year, and despite extensive searches, no trace of the child was found. The biological mother also reported not knowing the child’s whereabouts. There are suspicions that he may have killed the child and disposed of the body in the latrine.” He added.

After the child’s disappearance, the case seemed to fade from public attention. However, the Executive Secretary of Mamfu Village, where Uwase resides, explained that family disputes led to the case being revisited.

“There was an argument between Uwase and his sister, during which she confronted him, asking if he had killed the child as he had claimed. This prompted an investigation, and the matter was reported to the authorities, leading to Uwase’s arrest.” He shared.

Preliminary reports suggest the child’s body may have been discarded in a latrine. Authorities have since decided to demolish the suspected latrine to search for potential evidence.

The Executive Secretary of Muhura Sector, Gilbert Nayigiziki, confirmed that Uwase has been arrested and is awaiting further legal proceedings.

 “It is suspected that the missing child may have been killed by his father, which led to his arrest and transfer to the RIB. The investigation is ongoing, and the case has been forwarded to the prosecution. We cannot confirm if he killed the child yet, as the child had been missing for some time, but we expect the truth to emerge through the legal process.” He stated.

Residents of Mamfu believe that if it is confirmed that Uwase killed his child, the justice system should impose a harsh punishment for this horrific crime. The child, who was six years old and about to start school, had been abandoned by both sides of his family—his paternal grandmother and his maternal relatives.