A Ugandan mother accused of stabbing her five daughters has told police that problems in her marriage had left her emotionally overwhelmed before the incident.
Dorothy Namayo is alleged to have attacked the children at around 4am on Thursday, August 20, at their home in Kalungu Bunga, Kampala. The incident left two of the girls dead and three others injured.
Police said 14-year-old Khadija Daizy was found dead in one of the bedrooms. Her seven-year-old sister, Hawa Dalena, was rushed to Nsambya Hospital but later died from her injuries.
The remaining children, aged 13, eight and five, were taken to hospital for medical attention. Namayo also sustained injuries and was admitted to Mulago National Referral Hospital, where she remains under police guard.
During questioning, Namayo reportedly told detectives that she had intended to kill her children and later take her own life. However, investigators are still examining her account as they piece together what happened that morning.
The incident was not limited to the stabbing. Police also found that a Toyota Hiace parked at the residence had been set on fire. A jerrycan suspected to have contained petrol was recovered from the scene.
According to housemaid Mariam Saana, problems within the family had been escalating for several months. She reportedly said tensions increased after Namayo’s husband married another woman.
The second marriage allegedly led to repeated disagreements between the couple. There were also claims of conflict over family expectations, including reports that the husband wanted sons.
Mariam told investigators that another argument took place between the couple on the eve of the attack. She later woke up after hearing an alarm and children screaming and discovered several of them seriously injured.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Rachel Kawala said investigations were continuing. Detectives are examining witness statements and physical evidence to establish exactly how the events unfolded.
The accusations against Namayo remain subject to investigation and have not been proven in court.