Teacher accused of attempting to murder wife, step sons

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JINJA

Police in Kiira region have arrested a secondary school teacher on charges of assault and attempted murder by pouring a harmful liquid (acid) on his five-month pregnant wife and two step sons.

Rogers Ngobi, 26, from Kalalu village, Buyinda sub-county in Kaliro district, is a teacher of a secondary school in Kinsenyi, Mengo, Kampala city and a resident of Namusera in Wakiso district.

Meanwhile, the wife, Sallot Kwagala, 30, fell victim with her two sons: Elvis Mukisa, 6 and Elijah Mununuzi, 3, while Lovisa Mwima and auntie to Kwagala was also affected by the attack.

Kiira Police region spokesperson James Mubi told New Vision Online on Monday, May 20, 2024, that all the victims sustained severe burns and are currently admitted at Buwenge General Hospital in Jinja district in critical condition.

Kiira Police region spokesperson James Mubi. (File)

“Kwagala sustained third degree burns on her head, face, breasts, back and waist. Mukisa sustained severe burns on the face and eyes, while Mwima the auntie sustained burns on her right hand. Elijah Mununuzi sustained minor spills,” he said.

Family dispute

According to Mubi, trouble started when Ngobi stormed a family meeting intended to resolve a dispute between him (Ngobi) and Kwagala. The meeting was held at the maternal home of Kwagala in Nakagyo cell, Buyengo town council in Jinja district.

However, it didn't yield positive results, according to Ngobi because his wife refused to go back citing the alleged dubious, promiscuous and violent character of her husband. Ngobi later drew a small blue jerrycan from his pockets and poured a liquid (suspected to have been acid) on his wife, two step sons and Kwagala's Auntie.

The community alerted the Buyengo Police, which swiftly responded and arrested Ngobi who is being detained at Kakira CPS on charges of attempted murder and assault.

Broken promises

According to investigations, Kwagala says she meet Ngobi in November 2023 while she was working at Mingo Hotel in Kayunga district.

She noted that Ngobi lured her to a lucrative job offer worth sh100m in Kampala. He stated that, he owns a kiosk of general merchandise worth sh100m promising to make her a co-director with additional duty of running the day to day activities of the business.

Kwagala who was left with no option, resigned from her hospitality job in favour of the lucrative business as promised by Ngobi. On reaching Kampala, things didn't pan out as promised but instead was shocked to being taken to a rented bedsit in Namusera in Wakiso district with only a small mattress and jerrycans. 

The two started living as husband and wife for close to seven months. Kwagala alleges that during that time, she established Ngobi was quarrelsome, violent and was promiscuous which she could nolonger tolerate prompting her to run for her life.

However, from Wakiso she went to her Auntie place in Mbaale in Mayuge town council, Mayuge district where Ngobi followed her up.

He managed to convince Kwagala and rented a single room in Mbaale for two months at a tune of sh80,000.

Mubi noted that While at Mbaale the situation worsened and she ran off to her maternal home in Nakagyo cell in Buyengo town Council in Jinja district.

Mubi commended the community of Nakagyo, the administration and staff of Buwenge General Hospital for the medical treatment accorded to the acid victims.

He, however, said Kwagala still pends referral to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital in the burn unit for further medical management.