Police in Kanungu District have arrested a 16-year-old bar attendant in connection with the murder of a seven-month-old infant in Kinkizi Sub County.
The suspect, Shivan Ayera, a bar attendant at Kabo Star Bar and resident of Ibambiro Village, Rushoroza Parish in Kihihi Sub County, is accused of killing Abigail Akandinda, a baby from the same area.
According to police, the incident occurred on Tuesday at around 11:00 PM, when Tushabe Joelia, the mother of the deceased, had a quarrel with Ayera, which escalated into a physical altercation.
Following the fight, Ayera allegedly insulted Tushabe, telling her not to start fights when she had “an idiotic child disturbing them.” Tushabe reportedly dismissed the threat. However, at around 4:00 AM, when she left the bar to go home, she found her baby unresponsive.
Believing the baby was in a deep sleep, Tushabe went to sleep as well. Upon waking and examining the child, she noticed a whitish fluid coming from the baby’s nose and mouth. Alarmed, she called for help from neighbors, who, after checking the child, confirmed the baby had died.
Elly Maate, the Kigezi Region Police Spokesperson, said the scene of the crime was visited by the Officer in Charge of Kihihi Police Station, the Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO), and a team of homicide detectives.
He confirmed that the scene was properly documented, and relevant witness statements were recorded. The body was transported to Kihihi Health Center IV for a postmortem examination.
Maate added that Ayera is currently in police custody as investigations continue, with the intention of prosecuting the suspect in a court of law.
