news 23 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Mayuge Domestic Dispute: Man Kills Himself After Macheting Wife
A domestic dispute in Mayuge District escalated tragically when a man, Simon Kibuka, fatally stabbed himself after brutally attacking his wife with a machete. The wife is in stable condition, while local leaders voice growing concern over rising domestic violence. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/tragic-domestic-dispute-ends-in-suicide-and-near-fatal-attack-in-mayuge-5470904
Residents of Nabitu Village, Mayuge District, are reeling from a shocking domestic incident that resulted in death and serious injury. Simon Kibuka, 48, reportedly used a machete to attack his second wife, Kagoya, before taking his own life.
The violence is said to have erupted after Kibuka’s divorced first wife returned to the home with a child. Kagoya objected to the child’s presence, leading to a heated argument that escalated into the brutal attack.
Neighbors, alerted by the commotion, found Kagoya severely wounded and unconscious. They rushed her to Mayuge Health Centre IV and secured the couple’s home. Later that night, Kibuka allegedly broke back into the house. Under the cover of darkness, he inflicted severe self-harm with a knife, ultimately dying from a stab wound to the neck.
While Kagoya is reported to be in stable condition and responding to treatment, the incident has amplified concerns among local leaders about the prevalence of domestic violence. “People should learn to control their anger when they have disagreements,” stated Ivan Magumba, the Buwaya Sub-county NRM Chairperson, emphasizing that Kibuka died due to uncontrolled rage.
Leaders lament that such marital disputes are increasingly going unresolved through proper mediation channels, leading to violence instead of dialogue. They highlight that this tragedy is part of a broader, disturbing trend of domestic violence and gender-based violence in the region. National statistics corroborate these local observations, with the Uganda Police Force reporting over 17,000 domestic violence cases annually, and data from UBOS indicating that nearly half of ever-married women have experienced intimate partner violence.
Buwaya LC3 Chairperson Hussein Kamali confirmed that Kibuka succumbed to his injuries while being transported to the health center after being discovered in a pool of blood.