Updated by Faith Barbara Namagembe at 1259 EAT on Saturday 9th July 2022.

A 34-year-old woman, Suzan Mutiibwa has been arrested by police in Kiira region on allegations of beating to death, and burying her 7-year-old daughter, Mercy Namugaya. She allegedly committed the crime in Nkalange village, Busedde sub-county in Jinja district; where she dug up a pit within a nearby sugarcane plantation and buried her dead as a means of concealing evidence. 

Mutiibwa is reported to have beat up the child for unspecified reasons on July 4. Namugaya sustained injuries on the head which are suspected to have caused her death. 

She was arrested after neighbours reported the matter to the police when they noticed Namugaya’s absence three days after being clobbered by her mother. On storming the house to inquire about the whereabouts of the child, Mutiibwa first (mis)informed police detectives that she had sent the child to her distant relatives in neighbouring Mayuge district.  

However, after further inquiries, Mutiibwa directed them to the sugarcane plantation located about 200 meters away from her home, where she had buried the child. 

Mutiibwa has since allegedly confessed to committing the charges levelled against her, stressing that, she was routinely disciplining the child, but she collapsed dead and only buried her in fear of public reaction. 

The Kiira regional police spokesperson, James Mubi, says that Mutiibwa is currently detained at Kakira police station.  He said she will first be subjected to mental examination before embarking on the process of prosecution