crime 30 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
5-Year-Old Boy Found Dead in Bush, Police Probe Ritual Murder in Kassanda
A five-year-old boy from Rugingi Village, Kassanda District, went missing while playing and was discovered dead the next day in a nearby bush, with his body mutilated in a way that suggests ritual killing. This tragic incident has heightened fears amid a series of recent child abductions and murders in the Wamala region. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/five-year-old-boy-found-dead-after-missing-for-hours-police-suspect-ritual-killing--5442560
Residents of Rugingi Village in Kijuna Sub-county, Kassanda District, are reeling from shock after five-year-old Imran Senyonjo was found dead. The boy vanished on April 28, 2026, around 1 pm after leaving his mother Doreen Namakula’s home to play with neighborhood children.
When he didn’t return, his mother searched desperately from house to house. With no leads, police at Rugingi were alerted, launching a search with community help and local radio announcements, but it yielded nothing that day.
The next day, during continued efforts, Namakula found her son’s body in a bush near their home. Horrified witnesses rushed to the scene after her alarm.
Homicide detectives from Kassanda Central Police Station examined the site. The body was half-naked, sandals and shorts placed nearby, and the left eye missing—details pointing to possible ritual motives.
Wamala Regional Police spokesperson SSP Lameck Kigozi confirmed witness statements are recorded, exhibits secured for forensics, and no arrests made yet. Investigations continue to uncover the killers.
This case joins recent child murders in the region, including four-year-old Daniel Kazungu kidnapped from Mubende in March for ransom before being killed, and seven-year-old Meshel Nabukenya lured and murdered in Wakiso in February.
Authorities urge parents to stay vigilant, especially when children play outside during holidays.
Source: Daily Monitor