Two teenage girls who worked as fruit vendors are facing murder charges in the Uganda High Court.
The two teenagers who work in Kampala business district allegedly killed a 24-year-old second hand clothes hawker, Kanifa Natukunda, during a heated dispute over KSh 180 (UGX 5,000) debt.
The accused, are aged 14 and 15.
Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi heard from prosecutors that the teens approached Natukunda at Hanifa Towers on Luwum Street around 10 pm on February 19, 2025, seeking to collect the owed money. The argument escalated when the deceased allegedly slapped one of the girls, prompting one of them to fetch a knife and stab Natukunda in the abdomen.
Natukunda was initially taken to Naguru Hospital and discharged on April 20. However, her health deteriorated, and she died five days later. An autopsy conducted at Mulago Hospital revealed the cause of death to be peritonitis resulting from a deep two‑centimeter abdominal stab wound.
Following the attack, bystanders assisted Natukunda to the hospital. Before her death, she reportedly disclosed the identities of her assailants to a friend.
Police later arrested the two teenagers, who have pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutor Ivan Kyazze told the court that their case would rely on the post-mortem report, medical examinations of the accused and a crime scene sketch plan.
He emphasised that the use of a knife in the confrontation was intentional and without lawful justification.
Chief Magistrate Kayizzi has referred the suspects to the High Court for trial, scheduled during the next criminal session.
If found guilty, the suspects are likely to be sentenced to a juvenile rehabilitation centre, with the sentencing to be determined by the High Court within the child justice framework.
