Grief and disbelief have engulfed Kitengeesa village in Masaka City after Mwebe Deo brutally murdered his daughter, Sophia Nantume, a Senior Three student.
Mwebe reportedly attacked Nantume with a machete in the middle of the night, accusing her of gossiping about him and reporting him to the police, which had led to a search for his whereabouts.
According to her paternal grandmother, Maidinah Nakayi, Mwebe arrived home late, visibly agitated. He then sharpened his machete before launching a fatal attack on his daughter as she slept.
“I thought he was just handling his things, but when he asked for my bedroom keys, I refused. At around 1 a.m., he killed my granddaughter,” Nakayi recounted.
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Shaluwa Nakayi, another family member, said they initially believed Mwebe was sharpening the machete for farm work. However, he later switched off the lights and attacked Nantume. Shaluwa narrowly escaped after he tried to pin her down.
As he hacked Nantume, he allegedly kept accusing her of reporting him to the police.
“When grandmother told him to return the machete, he refused. After we turned off the lights, he switched them back on. I woke up to darkness and saw him cutting Sophia,” Shaluwa said.
The village defense unit, led by John Bosco Birungi, mobilized to capture Mwebe. Though he attempted to flee, he later surrendered but was lynched by an angry mob. His knives were confiscated.
Kitengeesa Village Chairperson Kudra Mwanje condemned the act and urged residents to report any suspicious behavior, including drug use, which might contribute to such violent incidents.
Nantume’s classmates and friends described her as kind-hearted, leaving many puzzled over what triggered her father’s attack.
While Mwebe had no known history of drug or alcohol abuse, authorities suspect he may have been struggling with mental illness or hidden substance abuse.
Masaka Resident District Commissioner Ahmad Washaka extended his condolences to the grieving family and urged residents to stay vigilant and watch for signs of distress in those around them.
Greater Masaka Police Spokesperson Twaha Kasirye confirmed ongoing investigations and cautioned parents against extreme disciplinary measures, pointing to Mwebe’s troubled past and his children’s reported misbehavior.
As the community mourns, the tragedy raises concerns about underlying societal pressures that may have led to such a horrific act.
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