Soroti city father on the run after beating teen daughter to death

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Police in Soroti City West Division have arrested a woman in connection with the murder of 14-year-old Clare Aketo, as the search intensifies for her father, Sam Simon Ongiya, who remains on the run.

The suspect, whose name has been withheld, is reported to be Ongiya’s sister.

East Kyoga regional police commander Ibrahim Saiga confirmed the arrest on February 11, 2026, saying investigations into the alleged murder by assault are ongoing. A post-mortem examination is scheduled to take place on Thursday afternoon at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital.

Aketo, a Primary Six pupil at Father Hilders Primary School, died after allegedly being severely beaten inside their rented house in Oderai cell, Oderai/Magengo ward, Soroti City West Division, on the night of February 10, 2026.

Ongiya allegedly locked his three children inside the house before assaulting his eldest daughter using a cable wire. His wife is reportedly in Kampala caring for a patient, leaving him alone with the children.

“Criminal investigations indicate that on February 10, 2026, at about 9pm, the deceased was allegedly assaulted together with her brother by their father, Ongiya, using a cable wire inside their rented premises at Oderai,“ Ibrahim Saiga, the regional police commander East Kyoga, said.

“The victims reportedly lost consciousness, and the deceased was later rushed to hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. The suspect reportedly attempted to mislead relatives about the cause of death and initially failed to report the matter to police. He later reported on February 11, 2026, and subsequently disappeared,“ Saiga added.

Police condemned all forms of domestic violence and child abuse and appealed to the public to remain calm, cautioning against taking the law into their own hands. They also called for information that may lead to the suspect’s arrest.

Local leaders said Ongiya had initially taken the girl to Joint Clinic on Wednesday morning after seeking help from a friend with a motorcycle. However, medical workers informed them that she had already died.

“He went to get a friend with a motorcycle this morning to help him take the girl to the hospital, but on arrival in the clinic, doctors informed them that they were carrying a dead child,” area councillor Carl Peters Emukol told Etop Radio.

Emukol said Okwi later took the body to his father’s home in Nakatunya and claimed that unknown people had beaten the child on her way home.

“The father instructed him to take the body to the scene of crime and report the matter to the police, but instead of him taking the body to his rented room in Oderai, he decided to take the body to Angopet in Amen B to an abandoned house,” Emukol explained.

According to local leaders, Okwi later disappeared. Police have mounted search operations in Soroti city and surrounding areas and are working with community members to track him down.

Neighbour Sarah Akello said residents were unable to intervene because the door had been locked.