Kampala Police have arrested a woman identified as Joy Biira for cutting off her husband’s genitals, killing him in the process.
The incident occured on March 26 in Nabisalu Wasswa Zone, Makindye division, Kampala.
“The facts gathered indicate that the husband known as Benson Baluku returned home drunk and started fighting his wife, whom he always accused of having extra marital affairs,” said police in a statement on Tuesday morning.
“During the domestic fight, the husband grabbed his wife by the neck and started strangling her, which prompted her to draw out a knife and chop off her husband’s genitals,” the statement added.
Cases of domestic violence have been on the rise in Uganda in recent years.
“A total of 17,698 cases of Domestic Violence were reported to Police in 2022 compared to 17,533 cases reported in 2021 thus giving a 0.94% increase in the volume of domestic violence registered,” the recent annual crime report revealed.
A total of 301 cases of murder as a result of domestic violence were reported to the Police in 2022 while 376 similar cases were reported in 2021.
Domestic violence refers to violent or aggressive behaviour within the home, typically involving the violent abuse of a spouse or partner.
Police said the murder of Baluku is another reminder that Domestic Violence is real and life threatening.
“It further shows how rage and anger exists among spouses, causing them to lose respect for each other. We would like to remind all spouses living in conflict, to always seek help on how to resolve their family differences,” said police.
The psychological consequences of domestic violence include anxiety, depression, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, antisocial behavior, suicidal behavior in females, low self-esteem, inability to trust others and fear of intimacy.
Others include emotional detachment, sleep disturbances, flashbacks and replaying assault in minds.
