By Robert Segawa
Kiyuni Village in Kyankwanzi District was engulfed in shock and grief last evening following a tragic incident where a man, suspected of suffering from mental illness, allegedly murdered his mother and brother using a cassava stem. The horrific event took place at the residence of Rev. David Ssejjemba, a parish priest of Nakandura Church of Uganda.
The victims have been identified as Namaganda Sylvia, a 46-year-old woman, and Ssenyonga Robert, a 24-year-old man. Both were residents of Bukekete Village in Makulubita Subcounty, Luwero District.
Rachel Kawala, the Wamala region police spokesperson, identified the suspect as Ssemanda Ronald, aged 30, also from Luwero District. Preliminary investigations reveal that the family had traveled to Kiyuni Village in June 2024 for prayers and deliverance at Rev. Ssejjemba’s home, hoping to find miraculous healing for Ssemanda’s long-standing mental illness.
It is alleged that during their stay, Ssemanda Ronald picked up a large cassava stem and, in a sudden outburst, struck his brother on the head, causing immediate death. He then allegedly attacked his mother in a similar manner. Namaganda Sylvia died shortly after the attack, despite being rushed to a nearby clinic for treatment.
Kyankwanzi Police responded promptly to the scene. The crime scene has been thoroughly examined and documented, with the cassava stem used in the attack recovered as evidence. The bodies of the deceased have been transported to Ntwetwe Health Centre IV for a postmortem examination.
Ssemanda Ronald is currently in police custody at Kyankwanzi Police Station. He is set to undergo a medical examination to assess his mental status as part of the ongoing investigation. The tragic incident has left the community in mourning and raised concerns about the care and treatment of individuals with mental health issues.
