Woman Arrested in Kole for Allegedly Strangling Newborn Son

Kole, Uganda – Police in Kole District have detained a 26-year-old woman, Winnie Acen, and her husband, Ronald Ongee, over the alleged murder of their one-day-old baby boy.

According to the North Kyoga Regional Police spokesperson, SP Patrick Jimmy Okema, the incident occurred on February 19, 2025, in Akalo Town Council, where Acen had successfully given birth at home.

Reports indicate that shortly after the birth, a quarrel broke out between Acen and Ongee. In a tragic turn of events, Acen allegedly transferred her aggression to the newborn, strangling him to death before dumping the body in a pit latrine at a nearby school, Alpha Nursery and Primary.

Suspicious neighbors, concerned about the baby’s whereabouts, raised the alarm, leading to the shocking discovery. The school director, Okao Alele, immediately reported the matter to Akalo Police Station. Upon arrival, the police secured the crime scene, interrogated witnesses, and retrieved the baby’s body, which was later transferred to Lira Regional Referral Hospital for a postmortem examination.

Both Acen and Ongee were arrested and are currently being held at Kole Central Police Station as investigations continue.

SP Okema urged parents in the Lango sub-region to seek help from local authorities when facing domestic conflicts instead of resorting to extreme actions.