news 2 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Bunga Child Murder Suspect Transferred to Butabika for Mental Evaluation
Dorothy Wamwoyo, the suspect in the alleged murder of her two children and injury of three others in Bunga, has been moved from police custody to Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital for a mental health assessment. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/bunga-child-murder-suspect-taken-to-butabika-for-mental-assessment-5581662
Detectives involved in the Bunga child murder case have transferred the prime suspect, Dorothy Wamwoyo, to Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital for a mental health evaluation. Wamwoyo, 43, had been held at Kabalagala Police Station for three days following her discharge from Mulago Hospital, where she had been admitted under police guard for a week.
Sources privy to the investigation revealed that police pathologists conducted a mental checkup on Wamwoyo while she was in custody. They reportedly found her to be mentally unstable and recommended a transfer to Butabika for assessment by a forensic psychiatrist. The police, however, have not officially confirmed this transfer.
The alleged incident occurred in Kalungu, Bunga, where Wamwoyo is accused of fatally stabbing two of her children and injuring three others. The attack was reportedly followed by the suspect setting a vehicle ablaze and injuring herself. The housemaid alerted authorities after hearing cries.
While in police custody, Wamwoyo allegedly cited unbearable marital wrangles as the cause of the incident. Family and neighbors indicated that disputes over her husband, Edirisa Traore, taking a second wife may have triggered the violence.
The case file has been sent to the Resident State Attorney, who recommended a formal examination by a senior forensic psychiatrist. Forensic psychiatrists assess a suspect’s mental state, fitness to stand trial, and potential risk of reoffending. This situation highlights the strain on mental health services, with reports indicating a shortage of trained forensic psychiatrists and overcrowding at Butabika.
Domestic violence remains a significant concern in Uganda, with causes including property disputes, financial strain, substance abuse, and infidelity. Police statistics show a concerning rise in murders linked to domestic violence in recent years.