Wakiso woman rescued from burning house, ex husband arrested

A woman has been recued from a burning house by the residents of Kazo-Muganzirwazza II in Nabweru, Nansana municipality in Wakiso district.

The Tuesday night incident saw the woman, who had covered herself with a blanket, emerge out of the flames of fire and shocked residents who had responded to alarm when she ran for a distance with flames all over her crying for help.

It was later established that her estranged husband allegedly attacked her at night, used a brick to break a glass window, splashed petrol inside her bedroom and set the house on fire.

Police are treating the incident as arson and attempted murder at Kazo-Muganzirwazza II in Nabweru sub-county in Nansana municipality.

According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango, a man identified as Dan Sseremba, now a suspect in the case, allegedly attacked his ex-wife, Shariffah Nabateregga while she was sleeping in a rental bedsit. It is said that with intention to burn her to death, Sseremba had two days earlier visited her and taken away his three children he sired with her. 

It is alleged he returned to the same home at night with some substances in a small Jerry cane which are suspected to be petrol and set the house ablaze while the victim was inside with a female friend.

An eyewitness claimed to have seen a man using a brick to hit the glass window through which he sprinkled the substances inside and set it on fire.

Onyango explained that Police investigations indicated that Sseremba had separated with Nabateregga three years ago and shifted to an unknown location. 

"For this period, each one has been living on their own but the woman has been taking care of the children including paying their school fees," Onyango said.

"Sseremba suspected the ex-wife of having an affair with other men and this got him annoyed and wanted to finish her off," Onyango said.

It is alleged that the residents who saw the house on fire tried to break in and later the woman covered herself with a blanket and ran out, in flames.

She was rushed to Kiruddu Hospital where she was receiving treatment. But Onyango said the residents intercepted Sseremba as he fled suspecting him to be a thief and dragged him back to the scene only to discover he was the former husband. They beat him into coma and wanted to kill him.

According to Onyango, fortunately, a Good Samaritan tipped the Police about the incident and arrived in time to rescue him. He was rushed to Mulago Hospital on a police patrol vehicle in critical condition where he is receiving treatment as investigations against attempted murder against him are carried out.

"We want to appeal to members of the public that if one feels like going to his or her relationship, they should avoid taking the law into their hands or force it but seek guidance of relatives or local or religious leaders," Onyango said, stressing that love should be voluntary.

LC1 chairperson Ismael Kigozie said the council had on several occasions intervened to reconcile the couple but the man disappeared from the area for about three years. He said the man also refused to provide for his children and the woman who has been working in a local restaurant has been footing all the bills. 

"I received a phone call from a neighbour at about 11:00pm that residents wanted to lynch the man after intercepting him as he tried to flee after burning his former wife," Kigozi said. 

He added that the wife was staying in the room with a daughter of the landlord who allowed her to stay without paying rent, but that she had refused to accept the man back into a relationship. The friend also sustained some injuries.

Hussein Matovu, a councillor and neighbour, said his children called him out at night after seeing a strange person outside the house holding a Jerry can. He said he was able to identify the man as Tata Namata (Sseremba) and called him, but he did not answer. Instead, he hit the window using a brick but his first attempt to light the house failed as people made an alarm. 

Onyango said the police were guarding the suspect in hospital and would be taken to court when he recovers.