18-yr-old sets self ablaze after husband marries second wife

An 18-year-old woman is in critical condition after setting herself on fire upon discovering that her husband had married a second wife.

Sumini Namaganda, a resident of Mutambala Zone in Iganga Municipality set herself on fire using petrol on Tuesday morning after discovering that Ramazani Kirya a bodaboda cyclist had married another woman.

According to one of her neighbours, James Isiko said the woman had on several occasions threatened to set herself ablaze in case Kirya married a second woman.

Isiko said Namaganda said bought a five litre jerrycan of petrol today morning from a petrol station along Kaliro Road before locking herself in Kirya's house before setting herself ablaze.

"We thought she had bought the petrol for fuelling her husband's motorcycle" he said.

Neighbours rushed to the house to rescue Namaganda upon seeing plumes of smoke emerging from the house.

According to the Mutambala Zone LC1 chairman, Juma Byogero, Namaganda received information through one of her colleagues that her husband had married another woman and had rented a two roomed house for her within Iganga Municipality.

Byogero said she grew furious and started destroying household items like plates, cups and flasks before smashing a 21 inch television set.

Stephen Oonyu who is in charge of the casualty ward at Iganga Main Hospital said Namaganda suffered severe burns on her entire body.

Oonyu said she is to be transferred to Jinja Referral Hospital where she will receive further treatment.
The Busoga East Police spokesman, James Mubi, said investigations into the matter are still underway.
He said Police is also hunting for the husband and that Namaganda will stay and close surveillance before she is charged when she recovers.