The suspect, identified as Francis Ocaya, alias Lawinyo, allegedly killed his wife, Nancy Adoch, and their children, Robinson Akena, 10, Canon Omara, 5, and Nancy Aloyo, 3, in their home in Tepwoyo West Village, Mucwini West Sub-County, Kitgum District.
'We are at the crime scene in Mucwini West, where a man killed his three children and their mother. We are actively tracking him down,' said Joe Oloya, spokesperson for the Aswa East Regional Police.
An eight-year-old girl, Sandra Lakica, survived the attack with life-threatening injuries and is receiving treatment at Kitgum General Hospital.
According to police, Ocaya allegedly attacked his wife and children with a knife after a heated argument with Adoch. He then reportedly dumped the bodies inside their main house and set it ablaze before fleeing.
'The fire attracted neighbors, who managed to rescue one of the children. However, Ocaya had already escaped,' Oloya said. Authorities are investigating claims that Ocaya later took his own life after committing the murders, though his body has not yet been found.
Security forces were by Wednesday morning still combing nearby bushes in search of him. Local leaders say the killings may have been triggered by Ocaya's recent HIV diagnosis.
'He had tested positive for HIV and accused Adoch of infecting him. This led to a bitter quarrel that ended in bloodshed,' said Smith Opon, the district councillor for Mucwini West Sub-County.
Opon described the incident as unprecedented. 'We are still in shock. This is the first time a man has wiped out almost his entire family in a domestic dispute,' he added.
The murders have added to growing concerns about rising domestic violence in the Acholi sub-region. The 2023 annual police crime report recorded 119 murders in the Acholi sub-region, translating to an average of nine killings per month.
Kitgum District recorded the highest number of murder cases (34), followed by Gulu (28), Omoro (27), Pader (18), and Nwoya (12). 'The leading causes of these killings include domestic violence, shootings, stabbings, and assaults,' the report noted.
As police intensify their search for Ocaya, authorities are calling for increased awareness and intervention programs to address domestic violence and mental health issues in the region.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/father-kills-wife-and-three-children-sets-bodies-on-fire
