A man in Kikuube District has allegedly poisoned his four children, leaving three of them dead and one fighting for life at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital.
The suspect, 45-year-old Wilson Kiiza, is also hospitalized in critical condition after reportedly consuming the same substance.
The shocking incident occurred in Ngogoma Village, Kinogozi Parish, where Kiiza, a market vendor at Duhaga Roundabout in Hoima City, had been visited by his children.
The children aged 14, 12, 8, and 5 had traveled from Lusaka Cell in Hoima City East Division, where they lived with their mother, to spend time with their father.
Preliminary investigations suggest that Kiiza took the children into a banana plantation, gave them a pink-colored tablet mixture disguised as cough medicine, and later handed each a bottle of soda.
Shortly after consuming the drinks, the children began experiencing severe complications.
Two children were confirmed dead on arrival at Hoima Regional Hospital around 5:00 p.m., while a third succumbed later that night. The fourth remains admitted, alongside Kiiza, in critical condition.
Local leaders and residents say Kiiza had separated from his wife, and tensions between the two may have contributed to the tragedy.
Community members rushed the victims to hospital after being alerted by one of the surviving children, who recounted what had happened.
Authorities, including the area’s LC1 and local security officials, have condemned the incident and called for greater awareness about domestic conflict resolution. The surviving child has been placed under medical care and observation.
Police have since taken over the case. According to law enforcement officials, charges of murder by poisoning have been preferred against Kiiza, pending further investigation. They have described the act as a result of domestic violence spiraling into a fatal crime.
