Police are holding two suspects over the alleged kidnap and murder of a seven-year-old boy in Kyenjojo District.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said on Monday that Osber Turinayo was kidnapped on June 12 from Kisoroma Village, Kitongore Parish, Kisojo Sub-county.
He said the child disappeared while returning home with colleagues from a nearby bar where they had reportedly been watching a movie.
“Preliminary findings indicate that Turinayo went with his brothers to watch a movie at a bar within the neighbourhood but he didn’t return home. Efforts by the family and residents to trace him proved unsuccessful,” Rusoke said.
Family Received Ransom Demand
According to police, the family received a call from an unknown person on June 15.
The caller demanded Shs1.5 million and threatened to kill the child if the money was not paid.
Rusoke said the family had already reported the disappearance to police, and investigations had started.
“Police tracked and arrested Isaiah Manyindo, 26 and Erias Twimukye, 17 who during interrogation, confessed to having kidnapped and killed the seven-year-old. They guided police to the crime scene and the lifeless body was found covered under tree leaves,” he said.
Mr Rusoke said investigations into the kidnap and murder are still ongoing.
He added that the suspects will be arraigned before court after police complete the investigations.
Police Warn Parents and Guardians
Rusoke used the incident to warn parents and guardians against allowing children to move at night without proper supervision.
“We send a message to parents to not allow children to move out at night. How could a child of 7 years end up at a bar at 9pm. We are going to punish suspects, but we shall not recover the life of the 7-year-old victim. This victim lost his life because some adults here and there didn’t do their work,” Rusoke said.
Similar Kidnap Cases Reported
The Kyenjojo case adds to several recent kidnap incidents reported in the country.
Earlier this month, businesswoman Lydia Babirye Ssengendo, 52, was abducted from her home in Ntinda, Kampala.
Her kidnappers demanded Shs19 million from her family. Although Shs9 million was reportedly paid, she was killed.
Her decomposing body was later found hidden in a house in Kiteredde, Kakiri Town Council, Wakiso District.
Police later tracked and arrested two primary suspects. They have since been remanded to Luzira Prison.
A week earlier, police in Katwe registered another case involving seven-year-old Nancy Kenyangi.
She reportedly disappeared after a man promised to buy her chapati. She had briefly left home to buy groceries.
CCTV footage from a nearby building showed two unidentified men walking with a young girl.
However, police said poor visibility made it difficult to identify the suspects.
The case has gone beyond three weeks without a breakthrough.
Authorities say such cases are not isolated.
The annual police crime report for 2025 shows that 118 kidnap cases were registered, compared to 159 cases in 2024.
