news 17 October 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Man Arrested for Gruesome Beheading of 3-Year-Old Stepbrother in Namutumba
Police in Namutumba District have apprehended a 25-year-old man for the alleged brutal beheading of his three-year-old stepbrother. The suspect reportedly lured the child away from his mother under the pretense of playing. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/namutumba-man-arrested-over-gruesome-beheading-of-three-year-old-stepbrother-5635666
A shocking incident has gripped Bugali Village in Namutumba District, where a 25-year-old man, Halidi Zibwa, is in police custody following the alleged beheading of his three-year-old stepbrother. The horrific event unfolded on the morning of October 16, 2026.
According to Busoga East Police Spokesperson Michael Kasadha, the child’s mother, Joan Mukoda, was working in a garden when Zibwa approached her. He took the young boy, Junior Tiba, under the guise of playing with him, but instead disappeared.
Ms. Mukoda became concerned when Zibwa did not return with her son after a significant period and began a search. The search tragically ended with the discovery of the toddler’s lifeless body, his head severed from his body.
Following the grim discovery, the mother’s alarm alerted local residents who quickly apprehended Zibwa. Police arrived on the scene to rescue the suspect from an angry mob intent on lynching him and have since taken him into custody. The district police commander visited the scene, and the child’s body was sent for a postmortem examination.
Initial investigations suggest Zibwa is a known drug addict in the community. Police are using this incident to urge the public to be vigilant about child safety and to report individuals involved with illegal substances to the authorities, emphasizing that such acts are deeply disheartening.