Tragic incident as three family members are killed, homeowner injured in Dodoma attack
What you need to know:
- The deceased include two young children from the same family, whose bodies were found burned, and a domestic worker who sustained fatal head injuries.
Dodoma. A horrific attack in Segubwawani Street, Nala Ward, has left three people dead and one injured, as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The deceased include two young children from the same family, whose bodies were found burned, and a domestic worker who sustained fatal head injuries. The homeowner, identified as a woman, was discovered alive but injured and has been hospitalized.
Acting Dodoma Regional Police Commander Anania Amo confirmed the incident to The Citizen’s sister paper, Mwananchi on the night of September 16, 2024. “We found three people dead at the scene,” he said. “The homeowner was taken to the hospital with a head injury. The two children were found burned, while the domestic worker had head injuries.”
According to Commander Amo, no unusual noises were reported by neighbours. It was a child sent to the house who first raised the alarm after failing to get a response.
“When neighbours arrived, a six-year-old child who was inside the house but unharmed called for help. The doors were locked, and it was only later that the bodies were discovered,” he explained.
This attack is part of a troubling trend of violence in Dodoma, with some recent incidents reportedly linked to personal vendettas.
Discovery of the Crime
Chairman of Segubwawani Street in question, Mr Jeremia Molima, was alerted to the scene at approximately 3:45 PM. Upon arrival, he encountered individuals entering and leaving the property.
“I instructed people to stop entering the house until the police arrived,” Molima recounted. “Inside, I found two children burned and a domestic worker dead with visible head injuries. The homeowner was still alive but in pain.”
Molima arranged for the injured homeowner to be transported to Nala dispensary for initial treatment and notified local police, who responded promptly.
He noted that the family consisted of Robert Mugema, a teacher in Singida, his wife, three children, and a domestic worker. The family had recently celebrated one of the children’s completion of seventh grade on September 14, 2024. It is unclear whether Mugema had returned to Singida before the incident.
“It appears they were attacked and beaten, but we’re still trying to understand the details surrounding the burned children,” Molima added. There were no recent signs of a fire, suggesting the attack occurred during the night.
Molima also described how the murders were discovered. A child was sent to retrieve a borrowed radio from the house, only to find the doors locked and no response. This led neighbors to investigate, eventually finding the scene of the crime.
Councilor’s Statement
Nala Councilor Herman Masila expressed shock at the severity of the incident. “The two children were found burned in their room, while the domestic worker and the injured mother were in the living room,” he said. “This is a grave incident, and the nighttime nature of the attack suggests it occurred recently, as no fire would have remained burning if it had happened earlier.”
The police continue their investigation into this tragic event, seeking to uncover the motives behind the attack and bring those responsible to justice.
