Man who tried to cut off head of his five-year-old son shot dead

Police in Kampala have kicked off investigations into circumstances under which a man tried to cut off his son’s head before he was shot dead.

According to the Kampala Metropolitan deputy police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, incident happened on Saturday morning when Police officers from Kira road police station rescued a five -year old child whose head was about to be cut off by the father using a machete over unknown reasons.

Kira Road Police Station has rescued a five-year-old child, who was about to be cut by the father using a machete over unknown reasons.

“The incident happened on 17/10/2020 at around 11 am at Kyebando, a city suburb. It is alleged that Suleiman Male,28, a resident of Kisaasi and a craftsman, picked his only child Isamu Male, 5, from their home to Kisalosalo Kyebando. Upon reaching Kyebando, he forcefully gained access to the house of a friend Ismail Ssesanga while wielding a machete forcing all occupants of the house to flee to a nearby police stations where they reported the case,”Owoyesigyire said.

He said officers swung into action to find out what had really happened but found Male had locked himself inside the house with his son and tried to ask him to release the child.

“All peaceful efforts to demand him open the door and release the child failed. The officers forcefully gained access into the room he had locked himself in. He was found holding the child’s head down with one hand and another hand raised up with a machete ready to cut,”Owoyesigyire added.

“The officers asked him to drop the machete, the order he declined to heed to the request. He went on to swing the weapon which put the life of the child in danger prompting on of the security personnel to shoot him and he dropped the child.”

The police mouthpiece noted that officers tried to shoot to disable the 28 -year old man but unfortunately, he died on the spot, adding that whereas the five-year-old child was saved, the deceased’s body was taken to City mortuary for a postmortem.

“In accordance with the police standards, we have opened up inquiries into the shooting and the intention of Male.  Statements from the locals at the scene and his relatives have been taken. “

Cases of domestic violence have been on the rise since the onset of Coronavirus and its effects like the countrywide lockdown.