CHILD MURDER PROBE: Students Arrested as Detectives Recover Bodies of Children Killed after Parents Failed to Pay Ransom

Two students are among the suspects arrested for their alleged role in two cases of kidnap and murder of two children in Greater Masaka. Police has recovered the bodies of the children who had been missing for days.

Cases of kidnap (and murder) were reported at Matete under reference numbers CRB 120/2024 and reference number 140/2024. The kidnappings happened on June 10, 2024, and on July 02, 2024.

In the first kidnaping, preliminary investigations indicate that at around 8PM of June 10, as his parents watched TV, Julius Asiimwe, a juvenile, disappeared from his home and his whereabouts remained unknown for days. Asiimwe’s parents reported the case at police on June 11, 2024.

In the second case, preliminary findings indicate that unknown people kidnapped Andrew Junju,  aged six, as he returned home from St Herman Kasana Primary School. Junju’s aunt Betty Zalwango reported a case of his nephew’s disappearance at Matete Police.

Junju’s abduction happened “a short distance away from where the first incident occurred,” according to SP Twaha Kasirye, the Greater Masaka Regional Police’s Public Relations Officer.

After many days, Police arrested eight suspects in the two abductions and murders of the children. Police also recovered the bodies of Junju and Asiimwe. SP Kasirye said the bodies of the murdered children had been maimed and dumped in a pit.

The suspects, SP Kasirye further noted, had earlier been demanding for ransom, adding that “their apprehension led to the recovery of the juveniles who unfortunately had been murdered.”

According to Kasirye, eight suspects are currently being detained to help police in investigating the murders. The eight include two students: Isaac Mutebi, a 17-year-old pupil at Kasana Muslim Primary School in Kasana A; and Elli Tumwebaze, an 18-year-old student of Senior Three at Matete Comprehensive Secondary School in Kiganda, Matete Town Council.

Police believe Hassan Nalukola, a 50-year-old peasant from Kasana A in Matete Town Council, was the ring leader and key suspect. Other suspects are: Muhamed Sebunya, 36 year old peasant from Kasana A in Matete Town Council; and Amon Twinomujuni, a 47-year-old peasant from Kasana C.

Others are: Matayo Muwonge, a 48-year-old peasant from Nakatoke in Matete Town Council;  Ahamed Musanje, a 29-year-old from Kasana C in Matete Town Council; and Peter Kasaga, a 45-year-old peasant from Nakatoke in Matete Town Council.