A domestic dispute turned violent in the early hours of May 1st in Seeta Village, Mukono District, when a man identified as Hadad Kasirivu allegedly set fire to his mother-in-law’s house in a suspected act of retaliation over a fallout with his former lover.
The house belonged to 70-year-old Justine Nakamya, who was inside the home at the time of the attack. She was rescued with minor injuries.
The incident has shocked residents of Seeta and cast a renewed spotlight on the persistent issue of domestic and gender-based violence in Uganda.
According to eyewitness accounts and local police reports, Kasirivu, a former partner of Nakamya’s daughter identified as Tusaba Joy has been embroiled in a long-standing misunderstanding with the old Nakamya over allegations that she influenced her daughter’s move to leave her marriage with from with the serving army officer attached of one of the security organization over gross torture.
“The conflict escalated after Tusaba fled the country, allegedly escaping repeated domestic abuse. The man could beat that woman like a Snake, she even one-time came here with a bloody eyes, When I asked her what happened, Tusaba told me that man had punched in the night because there was no hot water in the flask.” Said Robinah Nalule, one of Nakamya’s neighbors.
Police confirmed the arson incident but, as of this report, no arrests have been made. Investigations are ongoing.
Nakamya, visibly shaken but resolute, recounted years of torment allegedly at the hands of her estranged son-in-law.
“I know this must be Hadad doing all this, he has been working hard to make life a living hell for my entire family. Hadad has never owned this piece of land. When my daughter and him were still together, they gifted me a small plot. But after the relationship soured, he started claiming it was his. I have the buying agreement and his name is not even among the witnesses,” Nakamya told reporters.
She further revealed that Kasirivu had issued several threats against her and the family, demanding they convince his estranged wife to return to their marital home or face consequences.
“He said he’d destroy us if we didn’t bring Joy back,” she said. “He’s been tormenting us for years.”
Robina Nalule, a resident of Seeta Village say Nakamya had been involved in protracted land wrangles with Kasirivu, despite no legal documentation tying him to the disputed property.
The couple, Hadad and Tusaba, share two children. However, community members say Tusaba fled the country after enduring years of beatings and psychological torture.
This incident brings renewed attention to the broader issue of domestic and gender-based violence (GBV) in Uganda. According to Uganda Police’s 2023 Annual Crime Report, the country recorded 15,184 domestic violence cases. A majority 10,792 were adult female victims, compared to 3,243 adult males. Juvenile victims included 644 girls and 505 boys.
These figures underline a harsh reality: GBV cuts across all ages and social classes, but women and girls remain disproportionately affected.
Despite the enactment of laws such as the Domestic Violence Act of 2010, enforcement remains a challenge. Cultural stigmas, economic dependence, and fear of reprisal often prevent survivors from reporting abuse.
