The suspect has been formally charged with murder and is being held in custody. He is expected to be produced before court pending his trial.
MUBENDE, UGANDA – A harrowing kidnapping case in Mubende district has ended in tragedy, with the body of a four-year-old boy being retrieved from a pit latrine days after he was abducted from his home. Police have arrested the suspect, who reportedly demanded a ransom before murdering the child.
The incident began on the night of March 8, 2026, when the suspect broke into the home of Mr. Baingana Eric, a resident of Nalutete Village in Kigando Subcounty. According to a statement released by SSP L. Kigozi, the Public Relations Officer for the Wamala Region, the child, identified as Kazungu Daniel, was discovered missing at around 5:00 AM on March 9 when his father went to wake his children for school.
Following the disappearance, the family was contacted by the kidnapper who demanded a ransom of 6 million Shillings for the boy's safe return. Desperate, the family managed to mobilize 1 million Shillings and sent it to the suspect. Unbeknownst to them, the child had already been killed.
A joint team of operatives from the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) and the Police Flying Squad launched a manhunt. Their efforts led them to Kibaati in Kansanga, Makindye Division, Kampala, where they successfully arrested the prime suspect.
The suspect has been identified as Muwanguzi Emmanuel, a resident of Kisonde Village in Kibaale District. Upon interrogation, Muwanguzi confessed to the crime, leading investigators to the gruesome disposal site. He revealed that after murdering the child, he dumped the body in a pit latrine belonging to one Rwabutariye Frank, located in the same village of Nalutete.
On the morning of March 13, a team from the Mubende Fire Brigade was deployed to the scene. They successfully retrieved the body of the deceased toddler from the pit latrine. The body has since been conveyed to the Mubende Hospital Mortuary for a post-mortem examination as investigations continue.
The suspect has been formally charged with murder and is being held in custody. He is expected to be produced before court pending his trial.