By Edward Byamukama
Police in Kagadi District are holding a 12-year-old boy for allegedly hacking a woman to death following a dispute over an avocado. The suspect, whose identity has been withheld due to his age, is accused of killing 26-year-old Bridget Abigaba, a resident of Kyamagana A Village, Kamuyange Parish, Kyakabadiima Sub-County.
The incident occurred on Wednesday evening after Abigaba reportedly accused the boy of stealing an avocado from her garden. According to sources, the confrontation quickly escalated into a violent quarrel.
Armed with a panga, the boy allegedly attacked Abigaba, hacking her multiple times on the head, face, and neck. Her cries for help attracted residents, who arrived at the scene only to find her lying lifeless in a pool of blood.
The community members launched a manhunt and apprehended the boy from a nearby bush where he was hiding, before handing him over to police. Raise Mugisa, the Kyamagana Village Chairperson, confirmed that locals had responded to the alarm but were too late to save Abigaba.
The Kyakabadiima Sub-County LCIII Chairperson, Augustine Ngomiranze, condemned the brutal nature of the killing.
Albertine Region Police Spokesperson Julius Hakiza confirmed the juvenile’s arrest and said that police recovered the deceased’s body and transported it to Kagadi General Hospital for postmortem. Police investigations into the matter are ongoing.
