Residents of Nsimbo village in Kabalazi parish in Lwanda Sub-county Rakai District were left in a shock after Matia Dulufu, one of their own, brutally murdered his neighbour’s children before taking his own life.
According to residents, this happened on Tuesday morning when Dulufu, 33, attacked Nicolas Ssebbira, 6, and his elder brother Nickson Mugwanya, both pupils at God’s Care Nursery and Primary School in Rakai.
Dulufu allegedly used an axe to strike the children as they were on their way to school.
Ssebbira was killed on the spot from the attack, while Mugwanya succumbed en route to the hospital.
“He woke up early in the morning and found his neighbour’s children on their way to school,” Remegio Katumba, resident recounted.
“He struck them on the head with an axe. He first knocked down the elder one Mugwanya who died on his way to hospital, and then attacked the young one Ssebbira, killing him on the spot. He struck Ssebbira three time on head until he died.”
Following the brutal murders, Dulufu ran to his house and hanged himself.
Residents who arrived at the scene shortly after the murders reported that Dulufu had already taken his own life by the time they reached his home.
“We suspect he had planned to kill himself because he acted quickly,” said Katumba. “Residents who knocked at his door found him already hanging [on a rope].”
Despite the previous troubling behaviour, villagers had not anticipated such a violent act. The children’s grandfather, Matia Kafeero, said he was not at home when the incident happened but he was shocked that Dulufu whom he considered a friend could kill his grandchildren.
Ssalongo Matia Kabazzi, chairperson Nsimbo village, attributed the tragedy to the influence of drug abuse among the people, which he said impairs their judgement and leads to violet actions.
“Dulufu has been smoking marijuana and taking alcohol,” he said.
Southern Region Police spokes person Twaha Kasirye said they had established that Dulufu was HIV-positive.
He speculated that Dulufu may have been driven by a belief that his neighbours were involved in an affair with his wife who left him after he disclosed his HIV status.
Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour to prevent such tragedies in the future.