Kanungu Police arrest single father over beating 9-year-old son to death

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The Police in Kanungu district are holding a 30-year-old single father over allegedly battering his son to death.

It is alleged that Naboth Mwebesa, a resident of Kazinga Upper village, Rushoroza parish, Kihihi sub-county in Kanungu district, on Sunday evening battered his nine-year-old son to death.

According to an August 11, 2025, statement issued by Kigezi region Police spokesperson Elly Maate, Mwebesa lost his cool and pounced on his son, Emmanuel Amutuhaire, a pupil of Zendeire Primary School, for failing to cook dinner.

It is alleged that Mwebesa had gone for an outing on the evening of August 10, 2025.

According to the Police, on returning home deep in the night, at about 2:00am, Mwebesa was shocked when he found no dinner.

He allegedly woke up his son and interrogated him. The angry father then started molesting the boy. The Police said Mwebesa is a single father but gave no details about the boy’s mother.

“He started beating him (the son) until he became weak. He then decided to take him to a nearby clinic for treatment, where he passed on moments later,” Maate said.

It was at this moment that Mwebesa got back to his senses. He notified his brother, only identified as Sunday, who in turn immediately informed the area chairperson, who also serves as LC2 chairperson, one Sulait Asimwe.

It is alleged that Asimwe immediately arrested the suspect and took him to Kihihi Police Station, where he was detained, pending further inquiries.

The Police later visited the crime scene and obtained statements from relevant witnesses. Doctors at Kihihi Hospital carried out the postmortem, and the body was handed over to relatives for burial as inquiries continued.

“Upon completion, Mwebesa will be produced before the courts of law and charged with aggravated torture,” Maate explained.