Kitgum District, Northern Uganda – Police in northern Uganda have launched a manhunt for Francis Ocaya, a 31-year-old man also known as Lawinyo, who is accused of brutally murdering his wife and three children before setting their bodies on fire in Tepwoyo West Village, Mucwini West Sub-County, Kitgum District.
The victims include Ocaya’s wife, Nancy Adoch, and their three children: Robinson Akena, 10; Canon Omara, 5; and Nancy Aloyo, 3. The horrific incident occurred in their family home, where Ocaya allegedly attacked them with a knife following a heated argument with his wife. After the killings, he reportedly placed the bodies inside the house, set it ablaze, and fled the scene.
Joe Oloya, spokesperson for the Aswa East Regional Police, confirmed that authorities are actively pursuing Ocaya, with officers deployed at the crime scene in Mucwini West. An eight-year-old girl, Sandra Lakica, survived the attack with severe injuries and is currently receiving treatment at Kitgum General Hospital.
Neighbors, alerted by the fire, managed to rescue the surviving child, but Ocaya had already escaped. Investigators are exploring unconfirmed reports that Ocaya may have taken his own life after the killings, though his body has not yet been found. As of Tuesday evening, security forces were combing nearby bushes in search of any trace of him.
Local leaders have suggested that the tragedy may be linked to Ocaya’s recent HIV diagnosis. Smith Opon, the district councillor for Mucwini West Sub-County, revealed that Ocaya had tested positive for HIV and blamed his wife for infecting him, which reportedly fueled the deadly dispute. Opon described the incident as unprecedented, marking the first time a man in the area has nearly wiped out his entire family in a domestic conflict.
The community remains in shock as authorities continue their search for Ocaya and investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic event.
Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
