Kamuli student kidnapped, murdered

CRIME     MURDER

KAMULI-Police in Kamuli district are investigating the brutal death of a Senior four  student, whose decomposed body was found in the wetland that borders Butabaala and Namisambya villages

Tapenensi Taweeka, 17, a former student at Mustard Seed Secondary School- Busota in southern division,  Kamuli municipality was kidnapped and brutally murdered by unknown assailants. Taweeka had been missing for five days.

She had spent some days at home, after the school administrators dismissed her to collect fees.

  "I had paid the UNEB registration fees, but had a fees debt," Kosam Lubaale, the father, said.

Her mother, Joyce Nakayima said her daughter was returning from her grandmother's home in the busy Butabaala trading centre, renowned to harbor youth misfits.

Joyce Nakayima, mother to Tapenensi Taweeka who was murdered on her way home.   (Photo by Tom Gwebayanga)

The decomposing body, whose flesh and entrails had been scavenged by dogs, was found dumped near a sugarcane plantation, about a quarter a kilometre from her parents' home in Namisambya village, Kitayunjwa sub-county on Tuesday morning.

This is where the youth gang allegedly trailed and caught up with her in the wetland, before raping and killing her.

Taweeka's handbag was recovered about 40 meters away from the scene.

Wails from locals filled the air as the Police retrieved the decomposed body from the wetland. The body was taken to Kamuli Hospital mortuary for post mortem.

Her father, Kosam  Lubaale Tabuusibwa, 55, who was present as the body was loaded onto the pickup, failed to identify his daughter and went ahead to sell his milk in Butabaala trading centre, only to get a phone call telling him to return and keenly observe the raiment.

He cried out loud after identifying the clothes.

The director of Mustard Seed SS-Busota, Moses Kamya, regretted the incidence but hastened to blame the parents for the delayed feedback.

"The parents overstayed our student, if they had explained to us, we would have allowed her to study,' Kamya said.        

The Police Spokesperson for Busoga North, Michael Kasadha confirmed the murder, adding that the Police have embarked on serious investigations so that the culprits are brought to book.

Patrick Emukule Ilukol, the Plan -Uganda Program Manager for Kamuli, condemned the murder, adding that the act is a violation of girl child rights.