On Saturday, March 12, 2023, a mother identified as Cathy Ayaa, a resident of Vanguard cell in Pece-Laroo Division, Gulu City, stabbed her two biological children, killing one on the spot and severely injuring the other.
Patrick Kidega, the officer in charge at Gulu Central Police Station, said the victims were identified as four-year-old Evans Gimara, who died on the spot after she stabbed him repeatedly in the chest, and three-month-old Precious Atim, who is in hospital currently fighting for her life.
“The suspect later tried to commit suicide by turning the knife on herself and cutting her throat after stabbing the minors; she is currently on oxygen at the intensive care unit, and the three-month-old baby underwent surgery and stitches for the open wounds on her stomach,” said Kidega.
At the moment, the police have not established exactly what led the mother of two to commit such a crime,Kidega noted.
“What we have heard at the moment is from a neighbor, who says the suspect closed the door and stabbed the children in the absence of the husband; we shall get to understand from her once she is out of the ICU what led her to such,” said Kidega.
However, according to Jennifer Ayugi, the neighbor of the suspect, she had accused the husband of having extramarital affairs and failing to provide for the family.
“Ayaa was spotted by some builders on Saturday morning attempting to dump one of the stabbed minors in the toilet and alerted residents who came to the rescue,” said Ayugi.
Andrew Nyeko, the area LCI chairperson of Vanguard ward, had never received any complaints from Ayaa about the problems she was facing in her marriage.
“I wonder what could have driven her into committing such a crime,” said Nyeko.