Two teenage girls are facing murder charges in Uganda after a 24-year-old hawker died from injuries sustained in a violent altercation over a small debt.
The incident occurred on the night of February 19, 2025, in the bustling Kampala business district. The girls, aged 14 and 15, had reportedly gone to Hanifa Towers on Luwum Street around 10 p.m. to collect a debt of KSh 180 (equivalent to UGX 5,000) from a second-hand clothes hawker named Kanifa Natukunda. The three knew each other as fellow vendors, with the teenagers selling fruit nearby.
An argument is said to have broken out when Natukunda allegedly slapped one of the girls during the confrontation. This slap, according to court proceedings, prompted the other girl to fetch a knife and stab Natukunda in the abdomen. Bystanders at the scene came to Natukunda’s aid and took her to Naguru Hospital, where she received initial treatment. She was discharged on April 20 but fell ill again shortly after and passed away on April 25.
A post-mortem conducted at Mulago Hospital revealed that Natukunda had died from peritonitis caused by a two-centimeter stab wound in her abdomen. Before her death, Natukunda reportedly named the two girls as her attackers in a conversation with a friend. This information was passed on to the authorities, leading to the arrest of the teenagers.
Both suspects have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecution has stated that its case will rely heavily on the autopsy findings, medical examinations of the accused, and a crime scene sketch. According to prosecutors, the use of a knife during the confrontation was deliberate and lacked any lawful justification.
The case has now been referred to the High Court for a full trial in the upcoming criminal session. Due to the age of the accused, any sentencing, if a guilty verdict is reached, would fall under the child justice system. This means the girls are more likely to be sent to a juvenile rehabilitation facility rather than an adult prison.
The case has drawn public attention due to the ages of those involved and the tragic outcome of what began as a dispute over a minor sum of money. It also raises concerns about youth involvement in street-level business and the potential for violence in urban economic survival struggles. The court’s upcoming ruling will not only determine the fate of the young girls but may also influence future discussions around juvenile crime and justice in the region.