Police are hunting for a 27-year-old man, who has gone into hiding after he allegedly chopped off his 37-year-old lover’s hand and severely cut her other body parts including the genitals.

Kampala Metropolitan spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire has identified the victim as Jennifer Nakkazi and the suspect as Paul Watenga, a worker in a tea estate at Kanganda village in Kabembe parish, Kyampisi sub-county in Mukono district.

Owoyesigyire in a statement issued on Thursday, said the couple, which was two months old, has been residing at Nabiyagi village in Kyampisi.

Police say Watenga found Nakkazi with a man identified as Isaac who had gone to pick the hoe he had left behind and accused her of being in love with him (Isaac).

St. Francis Naggalama Hospital medical officers preparing Nakkazi for referral to Mulago Hospital on Wednesday evening. (Photo by Henry Nsubuga)

Nakkazi said Watenga drew his panga and chased Isaac with the intent to cut him as he accused him of being in love with her.

“At about 8:00pm on Tuesday, Watenga got out the panga and cut Nakkazi several times on the hands, shoulder, legs and in the private parts. After that, he folded her into the blue tarpaulin, locked her into the house and fled,” Owoyesigyire said.

Attempted murder

He added that Police have opened a case of attempted murder against Watenga and that his search has already started.

According to the Police, the residents were alerted about the incident by Nakkazi’s two-year-old son who was helplessly crying inside the house.

John Mukasa, the brother of the victim, said that it was the residents who found Nakkazi folded in the tarpaulin in a pool of blood.

Extent of damage

Nakibano parish priest Fr Simon Peter Ssessanga is reported to have rushed the victim to St Francis Naggalama Hospital.

Sr Prossy Nafula, a medical worker at St Francis Naggalama Hospital, said according to the examination done by the orthopaedic surgeon, Nakkazi’s left hand was completely cut off and it cannot be fixed back following the long hours she took before seeking medical attention after it was cut off.

Nafula reported that Nakkazi had deep cuts on the head, shoulder, right hand and two legs which were also broken.

A nurse at St. Francis Naggalama Hospital taking care of Nakkazi after she was put in the ambulance for referral to Mulago Hospital. (Photo by Henry Nsubuga)

Referred to Mulago

She, however, said they decided to refer the victim to Mulago Hospital where she could get free medication because she had no money.  

Nakkazi told New Vision that her relationship with Watenga was only two months old, but that he was so jealous to the extent that he threatened to kill any man who got close to her.

She called for well-wishers to help her with both financial and material support in order to get out of this situation. Nakkazi is a single mother with four children from two men who abandoned her and the children.

For any help, Nakkazi can be reached on 0750 072 482 which is registered in her brother’s name: Mukasa John Mbalule.