A 23-year-old woman from Kaberebere, Isingiro District, is fighting for her life at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital after a horrific domestic attack allegedly perpetrated by her husband.
Carolyn Nyamwizya suffered severe injuries, including deep cuts and a nearly severed right hand, after being beaten and hacked with a panga by her husband, Alex Mugisha, commonly known as Ochayo.
The assault occurred around 1 a.m. on Sunday when Mugisha reportedly returned home and attacked Nyamwizya immediately after she opened the door.
“He started by kicking and beating me. When I asked why, he began stabbing me with a panga, then kicked me out, leaving me naked and took my child,” Nyamwizya recounted from her hospital bed.
Hospital officials described her condition as critical when she arrived. Halson Kagure, the hospital’s public relations officer, noted, “She was in a state of shock, with deep wounds on her lower limbs and a right hand that was almost detached.”
At the couple’s home in Kaberebere Trading Centre, blood-stained clothes and traces of blood on the ground testified to the violent attack.
Neighbours, however, said they did not hear cries for help, speculating that Nyamwizya’s face might have been covered during the ordeal.
Family members expressed their struggles to care for her. “She doesn’t have food or the prescribed medicine. We can’t even afford X-rays,” lamented Kakuru Bosco, Nyamwizya’s brother.
Local leaders and residents noted that disputes within the couple had been frequent, often tied to allegations of Nyamwizya’s drinking habits.
Some locals claimed she neglected her three-month-old baby, further straining the marriage. The fight on the night of the assault is believed to have stemmed from these ongoing issues.
After the attack, Mugisha allegedly fled with the baby, placing the infant in a bag. Efforts to locate him have been unsuccessful, as his phone remains unreachable.
Authorities condemned the brutality of the act and emphasized the urgent need to address domestic violence.
“Domestic violence and excessive alcohol consumption must be tackled to prevent such tragedies,” stated Statz, the area’s LCI leader.
Nyamwizya, who remains without a caretaker, pleaded for justice. “I want him to be arrested and jailed. I wish to recover and be reunited with my child,” she said.
This incident has reignited calls for stronger interventions against domestic violence and greater support for survivors in the region.
