Police in Kasese District are investigating the death of a 33-year-old woman who was allegedly beaten to death by a mob accusing her of poisoning a four-year-old boy.

The deceased, identified as Ithungu Mary, was a resident of Kyanzababiri Village, Kyondo Sub-county, in Kasese District.

According to police, the incident occurred on October 9, 2026, during the burial of Mumbere Trust, a four-year-old boy who reportedly died at Kagando Hospital following suspected poisoning by an unidentified person.

Police said Ithungu had joined other community members at the burial when mourners allegedly turned against her, accusing her of being responsible for the child's death. The mob reportedly assaulted her severely.

Officers from Kisinga Police Station intervened and rescued the woman before rushing her to Kagando Hospital at about 4:30pm. However, she was pronounced dead at approximately 7pm, prompting police to open a murder investigation.

Rwenzori East Regional Police spokesperson ASP Elly Maate said the scene had been visited, examined and documented. The deceased's body was still at Kagando Hospital awaiting a postmortem examination.

Police said the woman had previously been married into the family of the deceased child before the relationship ended. The four-year-old was reportedly her former stepson.

Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing. Police have not yet established the circumstances of the child's suspected poisoning, and the allegations against the woman had not been substantiated.