Step-Mother Arrested Over Alleged Strangulation Of 7-Year-Old Stepson In Dokolo

Dokolo, Uganda | Police in Dokolo District have arrested a 30-year-old woman in connection with the alleged murder of her seven-year-old stepson in Bata Town Council.

The suspect, identified as Akello Sharon, was arrested following the discovery of the body of the juvenile in a grass-thatched house in Ongoceng Cell, Southern Ward, Bata Town Council.

According to North Kyoga Regional Police spokesperson SP Patrick Jimmy Okema, the incident is alleged to have occurred during the night of August 16, 2026, although the exact time of death had not yet been established.

Police said the matter was reported on August 17 by Ebong Paspiko, 52, a resident of the same area.

Preliminary police findings indicate that Paspiko was informed about the discovery of the boy’s body in Sharon’s house. Police said information received from a witness identified as Otim indicated that Sharon, who was the boy’s stepmother, had spent the night in the same hut with the deceased.

The circumstances surrounding the child’s death remain under investigation, with police treating the case as suspected murder by strangulation.

A murder case file was opened at Bata Police Station, and a team comprising the District Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officer, Scenes of Crime Officers (SOCO) and other police personnel visited and processed the scene.

Police said witness statements were recorded at the scene and the body was identified as Ajal Brian, a seven-year-old male juvenile.

The body was conveyed to Dokolo Health Centre IV mortuary pending a postmortem examination.

Sharon remains in police custody to assist with investigations. Police said the case file will be compiled and submitted to the Resident State Attorney (RSA) for perusal and legal guidance.

Okema urged relatives and members of the community to remain calm and allow investigators to conduct their work without interference.

He said this would help ensure that the circumstances surrounding the child’s death are established and that justice is served.