crime 14 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Suspect Nabbed in Mayuge for Targeting Teen Albino Boy's Hair and Nails in Ritual Plot
Police in Mayuge District have arrested a man from Mukono suspected of trying to collect hair and nails from a 16-year-old boy with albinism for rituals, sparking widespread fear among residents. Local leaders and activists are calling for heightened vigilance to combat dangerous myths fueling such attacks. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/man-arrested-over-suspected-ritual-targeting-of-boy-with-albinism-in-mayuge-5423802
Fear has gripped Mayuge District after authorities arrested a man accused of targeting a teenage boy with albinism for body parts believed to hold ritual value.
The suspect, who hails from Mukono District, had been lingering in Kaluuba Village, where he allegedly approached the 16-year-old victim during a community gathering in a cinema hall. According to the boy’s brother, Moses Magumba, the man first requested hair and nails for his ‘activities,’ and later offered money when refused.
The victim stood firm and rejected both offers, prompting police intervention. Investigations continue as officers probe the man’s motives and movements.
Local leaders like Kaluuba Village chairperson Muniiru Wandera decried the incident, blaming it on persistent superstitions about albinism. ‘They are just like any other people,’ he emphasized, noting efforts with security and advocacy groups to curb such threats.
Disability rights activist and Jinja City deputy mayor Fazira Kawuma urged reporting suspicious activities, while parents like Aminah Nabirye from Bukatube voiced growing anxiety over their children’s safety.
Peter Ogik, head of the Source of the Nile Union of Persons with Albinism, highlighted how these beliefs cause school dropouts and insecurity, demanding better protections and awareness campaigns.