Girl beheaded in ritual murder

Feb 23, 2009

A 16-year-old pupil has been murdered and her private parts removed in Nkooko sub-county, Kibaale district in another suspected ritual murder.

By Ismael Kasooha

A 16-year-old pupil has been murdered and her private parts removed in Nkooko sub-county, Kibaale district in another suspected ritual murder.

The district criminal investigation department chief, Michael Ogwal, identified the deceased as Mary Najjingo, a Primary Seven pupil of Nkooko Primary School and a resident of Nkooko village.

Ogwal said her decomposing body was discovered by residents on Saturday near a hill in the area after she had disappeared for four days.
Her private parts and breasts were missing, the fingers cut off and the head shaved.

Najjingo’s brother, who has been her caretaker, Charles Mpoza, reported to the Police that she was last seen on February 16, at around 6:30pm near a swamp while returning from school but she never reached home.

When she failed to reach home, Mpoza thought that she went to another relative’s home. But in the morning, when Mpoza went to her school, she was absent.
In a statement at the Nkooko Police post, Mpoza said he suspected she had been waylaid.

Ogwal said preliminary investigations revealed that the murder could have been carried out for a ritual sacrifice.

“We can’t rule out ritual sacrifice and we have arrested two traditional medicine-men to help in investigations,” said Ogwal.
Ritual murders have been on the increase, in which children are a target.

Najjingo’s remains were handed over to the parents for burial.
In a related development, another decomposing body was discovered in a forest in Nalweyo sub-county, Kibaale district. It is suspected to be that of a pit-sawyer.

RECENT RITUAL MURDERS
June 6, 2007: Ismael Ssekajja, a nine-year-old pupil in Kisekka sub-county, Masaka district was beheaded.

July 16, 2007: James Wanzaale, 12, of Nansyono village in Kaliro district was beheaded.

September 15, 2007: Joram Namanyira, 12, was killed by a guard, who connived with his caretaker in Rubaga division, Kampala.

February 1, 2008: The 11-year-old Jimmy Turyagyenda was almost sold for sh3m to a witch-doctor by his father in Katabi, Entebbe.

May 2, 2008: Hassan Ondoga of Naguru Kampala went missing. His body was found burnt at the Golf Course in Kololo.

May 27, 2008: Three traditional healers were arrested in Bwondha village in Bugiri district over possession of a human skull.

October 26, 2008: The body of seven-year-old Bwenge was found in a pit-latrine. The body had cuts, with the tongue, private parts and heart missing.

October 27, 2008:
Joseph Kasirye, 12, was beheaded by a witch-doctor in Masaka, with the help of his Tanzanian wife.

November 2, 2008: Assailants beheaded 73-year-old Sylvester Lwanga of Lwagurwe village in Masaka district for suspected ritual purposes.

November 19, 2008: 18-year-old Fiona Namutaaya of Kawempe, Kampala was arrested over theft of a one-year-old baby, David Gwanga. The child was stolen for sacrifice but the plot aborted.

January 1, 2009: Paul Ssekiziyivu of Bulenga in Mukono district was arrested in a traditional healer’s shrine where he had allegedly taken 10-year-old Geoffrey Kikabi for sacrifice.

February 9, 2009: A woman’s remains were recovered in a toilet in Bwaise, a suburb of Kampala

February 17, 2009: Esther Among, a Senior Two student was beheaded in Soroti. Her boyfriend Nelson Ochana was arrested.

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