Another suspected child ritual murder recorded in Mukono

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Police have detained four individuals in connection with the tragic murder of a six-year-old girl in Mukono.

Mariam Naddumba, a resident of Kisoga Village in Bukasa Parish, Kimenyedde sub-county, was reported missing on May 14, 2025, by her grandmother, Jane Nyaburu. Her body was discovered in a maize garden in the same village on the morning of May 15, 2025.

In a statement on Saturday, police indicated that her body was found without its genitalia, raising suspicions of a possible ritual murder.

Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy spokesperson for the Kampala Metropolitan Police, stated on Saturday that among the detained suspects is the victim's grandmother, Jane Nyaburu. The others include two male suspects, Moses Senoga and Jackson Ntege, along with a female suspect named Florence Zalwango.

He said the suspects were arrested following information from community members and insights gathered during preliminary questioning by police personnel at Naggalama Division.

"All suspects are residents of Kisoga Village and are currently in custody as investigations continue," Owoyesigyire said.

Preliminary findings suggest that the suspects, some of whom lived together, may have conspired to commit this horrific crime. 

"Police commend the vigilance and cooperation of the local community of Kisoga Village, whose timely action and information enabled early arrests and preservation of key evidence. We urge the public to remain calm and continue supporting the investigation by sharing any relevant information with the authorities, " Owoyesigyire noted.

At the time of this report, the deceased's body had been transported to Kayunga Hospital Mortuary for a postmortem examination to aid in the investigation.

Motives of the murder

The motives behind the murder remain unclear. However, it is important to note that Uganda faces significant challenges with child sacrifices. Recently, residents of Kyesiiga sub-county in Masaka District were reported to be living in fear due to a rising number of child kidnappings, many of which are linked to ritual sacrifice.

According to community leaders, including sub-county Chairperson Gordon Mayanja, several children have been abducted, with kidnappers allegedly demanding ransoms from their families. If families fail to pay, the children are often killed.

In a recent incident, a child who had just completed Primary Seven was found dead, missing body parts believed to have been taken for ritualistic purposes.