Kasese Woman Dies After Mob Attack Over Poisoning of Four-Year-Old Boy

What the report says

Mary Ithungu, 33, died in hospital after being attacked by a mob during the burial of a four-year-old boy in Kyanzababiri Village, Kyondo Sub-county, Kasese District. According to Nile Post, mourners accused her of poisoning the child, who was identified as her stepson, and police said the assault happened on October 9, 2026.

Rwenzori East Regional Police spokesperson ASP Elly Maate said officers from Kisinga Police Station intervened and rescued Ithungu before taking her to Kagando Hospital for treatment. She was reportedly admitted around 4:30 p.m. and pronounced dead about two and a half hours later. Police said they have opened a murder case and are investigating the attack and the people involved.

The report says the boy’s death itself had been described as a suspected poisoning case, but police have not established what caused his death or who may have been responsible. Investigators have also visited and documented the scene, while the body of Ithungu remained at Kagando Hospital pending postmortem.

The incident draws attention to the risks of mob justice, where accusations can lead to immediate violence before the facts are formally examined. In broader context, Ugandan police have repeatedly warned against such attacks and urged communities to allow investigations and court processes to determine guilt.