Couple Arrested for Killing Own Child

Police in Kotido have arrested a couple for allegedly killing their own baby. Lorna Awili and her husband Paul Lokiru were arrested on Friday after their eight-month- baby was found dead in the house.

Residents of Acholi Inn in Kotido Municipality were shocked when they found body parts which include the tongue and private part missing.

Police preliminary investigations indicate that the baby’s neck was broken and suspect that the child could have been strangled before body parts were cut off.

Neighbours told our reporter that the couple has had several arguments over the welfare of the child.

Lucia Lokwameri, the grandmother to the child says the baby was fine the whole day and was still happy by the time people retired to bed. 

“I don’t know what happened at night but I left for bed when my grandchild was doing well. There must be something fishy here”, the teary grandmother said.

But both parents claim ignorance of what transpired at night. Lokiru, says that he returned home last night at 11:00 pm when his wife was breastfeeding the baby. 

// cue in “Akenyuni atete…

Cue out…epei ekithina”//

Awili attributes the death of her child to witchcraft but could not divulge details. She says she woke up at around 4:00 am after putting the baby to sleep, only to find her child in a pool of blood. 

// Cue in “ngayeni ca…

Cue out…eyanga aokot”//

The area councillor, Margaret Komakech wants thoroughly investigations carried out to establish the cause of death. 

// Cue in “At first they complained…

Cue out…nine months”//

The officer in charge criminal investigations in Kotido, Innocent Dusabe said they have launched an investigation.

Last year, Awili was paraded before the village council and elders in Acholi Inn Village over child neglect. She had abandoned her one-year-old boy who later died due to malnutrition.

At the council of elders and village leaders, Awili reportedly confessed that she would not take care of her son.