Pupil,11, killed in suspected ritual sacrifice after leaving home to hawk maize

Police in Kiboga District, Central Uganda, have arrested a traditional healer in connection to the macabre killing of an 11-year-old pupil in Kirurumba village.

Nakyeyune Madinah, 42, was arrested on 10th June for the murder of Namanda Oliver, a pupil at Fairway Nursery School.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that on 10th June, the girl left her home at around 10 pm, to go hawk boiled maize at Kiboga town. This was the last time the minor would be seen alive.

Her family reported to the police on 11th June that she was missing, with search efforts launched immediately.

“On 12th day June 2024 at around 1130 hrs body parts of Namanda were seen by a young boy that had gone to collect some grass for animals in [land belonging to one Mr Sekandi… and informed the parents. We were later informed about the incident by LC1 of the area and immediately our task team led by DPC Kiboga responded to the scene of crime,” the Uganda Police Force reports.

At the scene, police say internal organs — including lungs, heart amongst others — had been removed out of the body. The abdomen was cut off from the legs and taken away. However the two legs were all abandoned at scene.

The body parts have been recovered and taken to Kiboga Hospital mortuary pending postmortem.

Police introduced their canine dog to the scene of crime and led them into a shrine at Kirurumba village belonging to Madinah.

“The suspect Nakyeyune Madinah owner of the shrine is currently detained at Kiboga police station. Search efforts are on to recover missing body parts. Our task teams are doing all it takes to have more suspects arrested and brought to justice,” the police add.

The Uganda Police Force is now urging parents to be cautious about their children’s safety in and outside home.