Two arrested over serial ritual murders in Masaka

Police in Masaka have arrested two suspects, including a money lender and a traditional healer, in connection with the murder of Jackline Natukunda and other suspected ritual killings in different parts of the country.

The arrests follow investigations into the discovery of a human head wrapped in a white plastic bag at Kako Cell along the Kako-Mukungwe road in Nyendo-Mukungwe Division on September 29, 2026.

The headless body was later recovered at Butale Cell, Kyanamukaka, and identified as Natukunda.

Twaha Kasirye, the Masaka East and West regional police spokesperson, said the suspects were in custody as detectives pursued investigations into the killing and other alleged murders.

The principal suspect has been identified as Kulashi Kamugisha, 38, a money lender and resident of Kasala LC I, Nyendo-Mukungwe Division. The second suspect is a traditional healer from Kyotera district, whom police allege hired Kamugisha to procure human body parts.

According to police, Kamugisha led detectives and scenes-of-crime officers through a reconstruction of the alleged murder, demonstrating how and where he reportedly picked up Natukunda from Lukaya, killed her, severed her head and hands, and disposed of the remains at separate locations.

Police said the suspect confessed to being hired by the traditional healer to obtain human body parts for two million shillings, with an advance payment of 250,000 shillings.

During the investigations, the suspect also reportedly confessed to two other murders in Nsangi, Wakiso district, and Sanga. He allegedly told investigators that he ate the heart of one of the victims.

Police said a body linked to the Sanga case had been recovered and buried, while investigations were being conducted jointly with the territorial police teams in Sanga and Nsangi to establish the circumstances surrounding the other alleged killings.

Detectives also recovered a jacket, gumboots, a saucepan and assorted items suspected to be connected to the alleged ritual activities from the principal suspect's residence. The exhibits have been secured for forensic examination.

Kasirye said the arrests followed coordinated efforts by the Nyendo Division and Masaka East regional police teams.

Police urged the public to remain calm and vigilant as investigations continue to establish the full extent of the alleged crimes and gather evidence against the suspects.

The suspects remain in custody as police pursue further inquiries into the murder of Natukunda and the other cases.

The allegations against the suspects remain subject to investigation and proof in court.