Police in Uganda's Nakaseke District are investigating a suspected arson and murder case in which four members of the same family were allegedly burnt to death in their home by unidentified people.

The incident took place at Kiziba Village, Nakaseke Sub-county in Nakaseke District on Tuesday.

The deceased were identified as Mr Matiya Lukwago Kabalega (80), and his grandchildren Steven Bamulasa (13), Yuliya Nanyonjo (4), and Christine Nakate.

A 16-year-old girl identified as Christine Kyotiba, who was in the house at the time, managed to escape unhurt through the back door.

Kyotiba said the attackers, disguised as visitors, first knocked on the door and tried to access the house.

They later poured petrol through a hole drilled in the wall of the house and set it on fire.

A section of the residents at Kiziba Village blamed the incident on a longstanding dispute with their neighbours.

Ms Christen Namagembe, (64), the wife of the deceased, told Daily Monitor yesterday that she had travelled to a neighbouring village of Kasambya to tend to the family garden at the time of the incident.

She said they had received numerous threats from a neighbouring family accusing them of engaging in witchcraft.

“When this family lost one of its members, they warned that our days were numbered. We reported the incident to the village chairperson, Mr Sabastian Mpagi, who visited the family and cautioned them against the threats. I believe that the promise to finish off our family has been fulfilled,” Ms Namagembe said.

Mr Mpagi said some residents knocked on his door at about 3 am, alerting him about a fire at the home of Mr Kabalega.

“We quickly went to the home and tried to put out the fire and possibly rescue some lives, but it was too late,” Mr Mpagi told the Daily Monitor.

He confirmed that a case involving a family that had threatened to harm members of Mr Kabalega’s family had been reported to his office in December 2020.

“It is sad that we are witnessing this unfortunate incident. We call upon the police to investigate this incident since we already have some clue,” Mr Mpagi added.

Mr John Ssebukyu, the son of the deceased and a student at Nakaseke Primary Teachers College, who was at school at the time of the fire, claimed that the attackers were particularly targeting his mother.

The Savannah Region police spokesperson, Mr Issa Ssemogerere, said they have already arrested two suspects in connection with the arson at Kiziba Village.

“The police are investigating that matter and we call upon the residents to volunteer more information that could help us track the suspects for prosecution,” Mr Ssemogerere said.