The police in Sembabule district are holding a 17-year-old teenager for killing a 15-year-old herds boy and disposing of the body in the dam.

The suspect in custody is identified as Mathias Ssengoma, 17, with others still at large committed the crime early this month at a farm in Gentebe village, Nsoga parish, Mijwala sub-county.

According to Muhammad Nsubuga, the Southern Regional police spokesperson, the suspects managed to go into hiding until Ssengoma was arrested this week.

It is said that Ssengoma and his accomplices yet to be arrested pounced on one Nicholas Mukisa, a resident of Gentebbe village, and beat him up to coma on suspicion that he stole a mobile phone.

When he died, Ssengoma tied two pit axes on his body and disposed of it in the dam where they stayed for some time.

Two days later, children, who witnessed the incident, notified Ssengoma’s father Godfrey Mujabi, a resident of Nsambya village, Mitima parish of Mitima sub-county, and the owner of the farm where it occurred.

Mujabi later reported the matter to Sembabule police station after realising Mukisa was missing.

A week after, information reached him that Ssengoma was hiding at his aunt- Robinah Nakatasi’s home in Kampala.

He then worked with police for several days to bring him back for questioning and revealed where the body was.

A homicide team led by Detective Andrew Ainembabazi visited the scene of the crime, searched and retrieved the body, and took it to Sembabule Health Center IV for postmortem.

Nsubuga confirmed the arrest saying Ssengoma is assisting police in the ongoing investigation as they hunt for his accomplices on the run.

He says the suspect will be produced in court when investigations are complete.

However, police and residents have applauded Mujabi for being an impartial father.