Kamuli, Uganda: Police in Kamuli District have arrested a 50-year-old man accused of attempting to murder his wife by hacking her with a panga during a domestic dispute, leaving her with life-threatening injuries.
The suspect, identified as Ilish Stephen, also known as Kutegana, was arrested following the attack that occurred at around 1:00 a.m. on July 2, 2026, in Kadholwe Zone, Kasolwe Parish, Kagumba Sub-county.
According to Busoga North Police Spokesperson SSP Samson Lubega, the victim, Nakyaato Nite, 40, sustained critical injuries after she was allegedly attacked by her husband.
Preliminary police investigations indicate that the incident stemmed from a domestic misunderstanding between the couple.
“It is alleged that the suspect instructed the victim to leave their home. While escorting her away from the residence, he allegedly attacked her with a panga, severing her left hand at the wrist and inflicting additional injuries on other parts of her body before fleeing the scene,” SSP Lubega said.
Police said the victim managed to raise an alarm, attracting nearby residents who responded and rescued her before she was rushed for medical treatment.
A manhunt was immediately launched to trace the suspect, and he was later found unconscious after allegedly ingesting poison in what investigators believe was an attempt to take his own life following the attack.
He was arrested and taken to hospital, where he remains under police guard while receiving treatment. Police said the suspect will be formally charged upon discharge and after being declared medically fit.
Investigations into the attempted murder remain ongoing.
Busoga North Police condemned all forms of domestic and gender-based violence and urged members of the public to seek peaceful ways of resolving family disputes.
“We condemn all forms of domestic and gender-based violence and urge members of the public to seek peaceful means of resolving domestic disputes and to report incidents of violence promptly before they escalate into serious crimes,” SSP Lubega said.
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