Police in northern Uganda have initiated a manhunt for a 31-year-old man accused of fatally stabbing his wife and three children before setting their bodies ablaze in Tepwoyo West Village, Mucwini West Sub-County, Kitgum District. The suspect, Francis Ocaya, also known as Lawinyo, allegedly killed his wife, Nancy Adoch, and their children—Robinson Akena, 10, Canon Omara, 5, and Nancy Aloyo, 3—in their home.
Joe Oloya, spokesperson for the Aswa East Regional Police, confirmed that authorities are actively tracking Ocaya, with officers stationed at the crime scene in Mucwini West. An eight-year-old girl, Sandra Lakica, survived the attack with severe injuries and is under treatment at Kitgum General Hospital.
Police reports indicate that Ocaya attacked his family with a knife following a heated argument with Adoch. He then placed the bodies inside their main house, set it on fire, and fled. Neighbors, alerted by the blaze, rescued the surviving child, but Ocaya had already escaped.
Investigators are exploring rumors that Ocaya may have taken his own life after the killings, though his body remains missing. By Tuesday evening, security forces were still searching nearby bushes for any trace of him.
Local leaders suggest the murders may stem from Ocaya’s recent HIV diagnosis. Smith Opon, the district councillor for Mucwini West Sub-County, explained that Ocaya had tested positive and blamed Adoch for infecting him, sparking a deadly dispute. Opon called the event unprecedented, noting it as the first time a man in the area has nearly eradicated his family in a domestic conflict.