By The Insight Post Uganda
A strange legal battle has unfolded in Mukono district with police openly backing a woman with a troubled past of killing her two children, in her bid to gain custody of her youngest son.
The harrowing tale unfolded in September last year as 30-year-old Esther Nankya, a resident of Kikubankima cell, committed the unthinkable act that seemingly involved a bizarre religious cult ritual.
Nankya tragically ended the lives of her six-year-old son, Shaban Kamoga, and her three-year-old son, Ramathan Lubega, by forcefully crashing their heads into the wall.
Her husband Musa Kamya was away for work when the Nankya committed the horrific act. She arranged the bloodied bodies in a straight line and positioned a Bible between them.
When Kamya arrived home, he found no one to open the gate for him. He took it upon himself to open it and was devastated to discover his children lying dead in the living room.
When questioned by the police, she claimed to have been receiving ‘eerie’ voices commanding her to sacrifice her children for God.
Following a preliminary investigation, Patrick Onyango, the spokesperson for the Kampala Metropolitan Police, announced that the woman would not face charges due to her mental health condition.
While in detention at Mukono Police Division, Nankya made an alarming attempt to strangle another detainee with whom she shared a cell, stating that she intended to send her to God.
This prompted the police authorities to transfer her to Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital, where she underwent an extensive examination and treatment for several months.
Following a period of evaluation and therapy, Nankya was deemed stable enough for release and has since returned to her parents’ home. However, her reemergence has sparked a highly contentious custody battle, as she asserts her rights to have custody of her last born of one year.
But her husband Kamya has vehemently refused to release their youngest child fearing the unforeseen dangers that could arise. According to Kamya, he is already traumatised, apprehensive, and haunted by the tragic loss of their two children.
Seeking a resolution, Nankya turns to the police, leading to a complex and emotionally charged case that now sees the police pressuring Kamya to surrender the child, resulting in a tense tug-of-war.
On Tuesday, the Mukono Police Child and Family Protection Unit (CFPU) summoned Kamya following requests from Nankya to regain custody of their youngest child and their other son. Nankya also requested to keep the house and a retail shop business in order to provide for herself and their surviving son.
Kamya expresses his concern, stating that the police never informed him about the outcome of Nankya’s mental evaluation from Butabika. He questions why he was not officially notified when she was released back into the community and now faces pressure to hand over their only surviving son to her.
He worries about the possibility of Nankya posing a threat to their child’s life. According to Kamya, these circumstances serve as evidence that the police shielded Nankya from facing charges for her actions by claiming she had a mental disorder.
When contacted over the matter, Stella Ulea, The Officer In Charge of the Mukono CFPU, declined to comment on the matter. Similarly, despite our persistent efforts to obtain a statement, the police public relations department in charge of Kampala Metropolitan has chosen to maintain its silence.
Police Under Fire
The residents of Kikubankima express strong criticism towards the police’s decision, stating that allowing the woman to regain custody of the child would result in further tragedy.
Mariam Kabedda, a resident of Kikubankima says the act committed by Nankya was so inhuman and she deserves a strong rehabilitation and monitoring before she is left to stay in the community again.
According to Denis Kirya, the Area Defense Secretary, Nankya should not be allowed to remain in their community without police presenting a report from Butabika Hospital confirming her mental state.
The residents vividly remember the moment she was apprehended, as she appeared to be possessed by a strong demon, adding that it called for extra force to restrain her from causing more harm.
According to experts, addressing mental health issues in society is crucial for preventing incidents like the one involving Nankya. By promoting mental health awareness, improving access to services, implementing early intervention and prevention programs, strengthening support networks, collaborating with diverse stakeholders, enhancing mental health training, and encouraging open dialogue, we can create a more compassionate and proactive approach to mental health.
Through these efforts, we can strive to build a society that prioritizes emotional well-being, reduces stigma, supports individuals in need, and ultimately works towards preventing tragic situations caused by untreated mental health conditions.
Mental Health State
During the commencement of Mental Health Month in May 2022, officials from Uganda’s Ministry of Health revealed that approximately 14 million individuals, out of a total population of 43.7 million, are affected by mental illness.
This represents an estimated prevalence of around 32.0%, which is higher than previous national estimates of 24.2%. The increased prevalence may be attributed to social stigma and taboos surrounding mental health services, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Uganda’s primary healthcare system suffers from inadequate resources, insufficient funding, and a lack of necessary provisions to address mental health concerns. Notably, there are only 53 psychiatrists nationwide, equating to approximately one psychiatrist per million people.
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