Five arrested over murder of five children in Kyenjojo

CRIME | MURDER

KYENJOJO - The Police have arrested five suspects in connection to the murder of five children in Bufunjo sub-county, Kyenjojo district last week.

A press release issued by police spokesperson Fred Enanga on Monday, stated that the five suspects were arrested by a joint task force team comprising of police flying squad and the homicide.

The suspects were identified as Justus Balyeijaaka Yusi, his wife Keli Akampasa, Lauben Muhereza and his wife Sylvia Alinda and Allan Turyahikayo who was arrested at Ntinda in Kampala and transferred to Kyenjojo.

According to the police, preliminary information indicates that the suspects hatched a plot in their home to carry a revenge attack on the family of Joseph Tumwebaze, after he facilitated the release of his brother Ndyanabo Godfrey.

Ndyanabo was imprisoned for the murder of the suspects' brother, Bright, in 2012. 

Two of his brothers Allan Turyahikaya and Justus Balyeija were not convinced with the out-of-court settlement between the two families and repeatedly threatened revenge for the life of their brother. 

The suspects have confessed to the murder and also led police detectives to the recovery of a blood stained shirt belonging to one of the child victims and pangas used as murder weapons.

Enanga revealed in a press statement that they had also established the identity of the other two suspects on the run as Fred Byaruhanga and Emmanuel Kagarurane and are tracking them down for arrest. 

"The police strongly condemn the revenge attacks and killing of civilians including children, as there is no justification for such extra ordinary degree of violence.  The suspects are to be charged with five counts of murder and one count of attempted murder," Enanga reveals.

Meanwhile the police have deployed a specifically trained team of family liaison officers to counsel and support the surviving family members during this tragic moment.

On Thursday last week assailants broke the door glasses and gained access to the house of Steven Tumwebaze, locked one relative, Gerald Akampurira into his room before accessing Tumwebaze's bedroom where they found his wife and asked about his whereabouts and money.  

The five murdered children have been identified as Barbra Atuhairwe,7, Oscar Aliganyira,4, Linet Ainebyona,3, Davis Twinomugisha,2 and a baby of two months only identified as Abwooli.

 Their mother Night Harriet was beaten to comma and thrown into River Kahombo where she was picked in the morning and taken to Kyenjojo General Hospital. 

According to Tumwebaze, in 2012, his brother identified as Ndyanabo Francis had a scuffle with another resident identified as Bright in a bar located in Rwendeza village, however Bright later died.  

He adds that Bright's father, a one Kakwega, reported the case to police leading to the arrest of Ndyanabo.  

However, Tumwebaze's father Edson Kaliyo was able to get Ndyanabo out of police cells and agreed to compensate Kakwega's family with 4 million shillings to cover Bright's burial expenses.  

Shortly after Bright's burial, Tumwebaze recalls that the Kakwega family attacked his house and destroyed part of it and also threatened to kill the children and the wife at that time. 

Tumwebaze said that Bright's brother only identified as Allan has been threatening him and his children that they will revenge for the death of their brother.

The Kyenjojo District Police Commander James Kawalya said that after the killings, the police sniffer dog led police officers to the house of one Kagurana in Kantenga village.