By Mike Rwothomio

Police in Terego District have arrested a 16-year-old female, Scovia, on charges of murder following the death of her 49-year-old mother, Mariku Grace, in a violent domestic incident in Akua Cell, Awaa Ward, Leju Town Council.

The Terego Central Police Station (CPS) is investigating the case as a homicide.

According to police reports, the incident occurred around 9:30 PM on July 2, 2025, stemming from a heated altercation between the suspect and the victim.

SP Collins Asea, the North and West Nile regional police spokesperson, confirmed the incident, stating, “The mother and daughter, both of Lugbara ethnicity and residents of Elavu Cell, Alia Ward, had been consuming local alcohol earlier that morning.”

Asea added, “The pair left the drinking location around 9:00 PM and were en route to their residence when a dispute erupted. The argument escalated into a violent confrontation, during which Scovia allegedly assaulted her mother with a stick, reportedly inserting it into the victim’s nostrils. Passersby discovered the suspect beside her mother’s lifeless body and alerted authorities"

Officers from the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), alongside Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO) and other detectives, responded promptly, processing and documenting the crime scene.

Scovia was apprehended at the scene and initially turned over to the Terego District Probation Officer before being transferred to police custody, where she remains detained as investigations continue.

The victim’s body was transported to Arua City Mortuary for a postmortem examination to determine the precise cause of death.

Domestic violence, encompassing physical, emotional, or psychological abuse, affects individuals across all demographics and can lead to devastating outcomes, as evidenced by this tragic loss of life.

SP Asea stated that further details will be released as the investigation progresses.

This incident has shocked the local community, underscoring the catastrophic consequences of unresolved domestic disputes.

Authorities urge families to seek peaceful conflict resolution and utilize community resources, counseling, and law enforcement intervention to prevent such tragedies and foster safer homes and communities.

Domestic violence remains a pervasive issue in Uganda, with alarming statistics highlighting its prevalence. According to a 2020 survey by U.N.-backed local authorities, 95% of women and girls in Uganda reported experiencing physical or sexual violence, or both, after the age of 15.

Additionally, the 2023 Uganda Police Crime Report recorded 15,184 domestic violence cases, with 10,792 female adult victims compared to 3,243 male adult victims, and 644 juvenile girls versus 505 juvenile boys.

 A 2023 Afrobarometer report noted 272,737 instances of domestic violence between 2015 and 2021, including 2,278 homicides likely committed by intimate partners, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive interventions to address this crisis.

Mike Rwothomio is news editor at zoomer Africa