A 50-year-old man, Mr. Kanu Mugwere, resident in Kisaaba Village, Kayunga Town Council, Kayunga District, was brutally beaten by his own children for allegedly selling family land. The incident has left Mr. Mugwere with severe injuries to the head and leg, as well as complaints of pain in the chest and abdomen.
Mr. Mugwere, a mason, defended his actions, stating that he sold the land for Shs1.5 million to finance the treatment of one of his children suffering from a mental illness at Butabika National Mental Hospital. However, his 20-year-old son and 25-year-old married daughter vehemently opposed the land sale, leading to a violent confrontation.
During an interview, Mr. Mugwere recounted the assault, explaining that his children confronted him about the land sale and proceeded to beat him mercilessly until he collapsed. Despite the commotion, curious residents refused to intervene, expressing fatigue over the family’s ongoing disputes.
A concerned neighbor revealed that Mr. Mugwere managed to escape from his assailants, seeking refuge at a neighbor’s house while suffering from injuries.
Mr. Mugwere, frustrated by repeated assaults, stated, “This is not the first time these children are beating me. They disrespect me as if I am not their father. I am tired of this kind of shame, and I am going to sell off the house and leave them here.”
Last Friday, Mr. Mugwere reported the assault at Kayunga Central Police Station and underwent a medical examination. He insists on the arrest of his children, emphasizing that the plot he sold belonged to him.
One of the children involved, Mr. Isaac Kanu, defended their actions, claiming that Mugwere sold part of the land on which the family house sits. He expressed opposition to his father’s alleged intention to sell even the family house.
Mr. Abu Ssebuliba, the Kisaaba Village chairman, highlighted the family’s history of conflicts, some of which he had previously mediated. He recommended involving the police in resolving the matter.
Ms. Hellen Alikobam, the Kayunga District police officer-in-charge of the Family and Child Protection Unit, advised Mr. Mugwere to attempt a peaceful resolution with his family. However, she warned that if such attempts fail, the police would pursue criminal charges against the perpetrators.
Mr. Mugwere is currently undergoing treatment at Kayunga Regional Referral Hospital as the community grapples with the disturbing incident of familial violence.
