Grave betrayal of trust: Mother of four condemned to 8 years in prison for murdering daughter

________________

The courtroom in Lira was heavy with silence as a young mother of four stood to face justice for a crime that shocked her village and tore her family apart.

Sharon Acheng, 28, pleaded guilty to killing her two-month-old daughter, Auma, after a quarrel with her husband. 

On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, Justice Sarah Birungi Kalibaala sentenced her to eight years in prison, calling the act a grave betrayal of trust.

Prosecution told court that on June 7, 2024, Acheng left her home in Amone ‘A’ village, Loro sub-county, Oyam district, with her infant strapped to her back, heading to her grandmother’s home in Kamdini sub-county after a misunderstanding with her husband, Isaac Odongo.

However, along the way, she admitted, a dark thought crossed her mind. She untied the baby and threw her into a swamp before continuing her journey as though nothing had happened.

The next morning, farmer Arron Oryema discovered the naked body of a child floating in the water at Akaidebe village. He raised the alarm, and the body was later identified by Odongo as his daughter.

A post-mortem at Anyeke Health Centre IV showed Auma had died from severe head and spinal injuries. Acheng was arrested soon after and later confessed in detail to the killing before police detectives.

The prosecution’s case

State Attorney Anthony Obonyo Jabwor said the case was aggravated by the victim’s extreme vulnerability.

“The convict’s action was unreasonable, irrational and callous,” he told court. 

“She killed her own biological daughter, a defenceless infant who trusted her. Such killings are sadly on the rise, according to last year’s Police records.”

Obonyo prayed for an eight-year custodial sentence, noting that while the Penal Code Act allows for the death penalty in murder cases, the guilty plea and other factors could be considered.

Plea for leniency

Defence lawyer Hope Abeja urged the judge to be merciful, saying Acheng was a first offender with no criminal history.

“She is the mother of three other young children who now have no one to care for them,” he said.

“She acted out of anger following a domestic misunderstanding. During the 13 months she has already spent on remand, she has shown remorse and reform. I pray for a lenient sentence of six years.”

When given a chance to address the court, Acheng wept softly and asked for forgiveness.

“Court should forgive me and give me a small punishment so I can return to look after my other children,” she pleaded.

The verdict

In her ruling, Justice Kalibaala said she had carefully weighed both the aggravating and mitigating circumstances.

“The killing of a child by her own mother is a grave and heartbreaking offence,” she said. 

“But the convict is a first offender and has pleaded guilty, saving court’s time. She has also expressed remorse.”

The judge sentenced Acheng to eight years in prison, deducting the time already spent on remand. She will serve six years, ten months and five days.