Police in Nwoya district is holding a man for torching a grass thatched hut leading to the death of a three-year-old boy and severely injuring two other members of the same family.
Jimmy Amai, a resident of Tido B Village in Pakia parish in Lii Sub County was arrested on Thursday last week from a hideout in the same area.
It is alleged that on Wednesday night last week at around midnight, Amai torched a hut while Stephen Ocen the deceased was inside together with his seven-year-old brother Isaac Okello and their mother Milly Ayoo.
Ocen died in the fire but Ayoo and Okello escaped with serious burns after being rescued by neighbors. They are nursing burn wounds at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital.
Ayoo says that Amai had proposed for a love affair with her which she accepted. The accused had been offering material support to the family however Ayoo had been denying him conjugal rights.
Ayoo says that the relationship turned sour and since then Amai has been threatening to kill her together with her children. She told police at Anaka Town Council that she believes that Amai had a hand in torching the hut.
Patrick Jimmy Okema, the Aswa River Region Police Spokesperson confirmed Amai`s arrest saying that the suspect is being held at Anaka Police Station for murder by arson
Similarly, police in Gulu are also investigating circumstances under which eleven huts were on Wednesday night torched in Layibi-Bardege division in Gulu City by unknown arsonists.
Florence Atoo, the Kanyagoga Local Chairperson where three huts were burnt said that residents in the area are now having sleepless nights and in fear for dear lives.
