Police in greater Masaka are on a manhunt for a 36-year-old man for attacking and hacking his lover and a 14-year-old daughter over accusations of unfaithfulness.

The incident happened on August 19, 2024, in Kalunduka village, Kibinge sub-county in Bukomansimbi district.

The police have identified the suspect as Atanansi Mayanja, a resident of Kalunduka village in Bukomansimbi district.

According to the police, the victims, identified as Faridah Babirye Namutebi, 32, and her 14-year-old daughter, Mary Gorreth Nassuna, were attacked and hacked with machetes by the suspect while in a garden.

Preliminary reports indicate that the couple had recently separated because of Mayanja’s unhealthy constant jealousy and accusations that Namutebi was cheating on him, which led to a strain in their relationship.

According to Namutebi’s daughter (Nassuna), Mayanja found them in the garden and started accusing Namutebi of calling her lovers on the phone he bought for her, prompting him to forcefully grab it from her, destroy it, then brutally hack Namutebi’s neck and head.

She added that Namutebi ran away until she reached a neighbor’s door, where Mayanja cut off her palm and continued hacking her with a machete. Nasuna added that when she intervened, she was also cut, and Mayanja later ran away.

’’When Mayanja started accusing my mother of unfaithfulness, he was so full of rage, and I just knew he was going to brutally hurt us both, and indeed he did hurt us,’’ Nassuna disclosed.

During an interview with Twaha Kasirye, the Greater Masaka police spokesperson on August 20, 2024, he confirmed the incident and said that a manhunt for the suspect had started.

Kasirye noted that the suspect was a drug addict, and he might have been under the influence of drugs, prompting him to brutally attack the victims.

’’This couple has been having issues, according to the neighbors; however, they had never fought like this before. Since he has been using drugs, he might have been under the influence when he attacked Namutebi and Nassuna,’’ Kasirye stated.

The victims are at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital, receiving treatment.

This attack highlights the need for greater awareness and support for victims of domestic violence and the importance of addressing substance abuse issues in the community. Kasirye has urged the locals to alert the police or provide information on Mayanja’s whereabouts so that he can be booked.