Police in Masaka are investigating circumstances under which the body of an unidentified four-year-old girl was found lifeless in Gayaza village in the Kimanya-Kabonero division, Masaka city.

The body of the deceased was discovered by passersby on the morning of December 16, 2024, in Kajansembe swamp after the heavy downpour.

According to the nature of the body of the deceased, it sparked a lot of speculations among the locals.

Some locals linked the death to a likelihood of ritual sacrifice, while others said that this evil deed might have been done in the morning before it started raining.

One of the locals identified as Taata Mark said that the young girl might have been killed from an unknown location for rituals and dumped in the Kajansembe swamp to kill evidence.

Taata Mark said the deceased was found with objects around her that could have pointed to a ritualistic murder.

’’We found coffee beans, cowrie shells, small bones, and a bark cloth near the deceased’s body. We believe she might have been killed for rituals,’’ Mark stated.

Speaking to the media, the Greater Masaka police spokesperson, Twaha Kasirye, confirmed the incident and revealed that investigations are underway to ascertain the cause of death.

“We do not know whether she was dumped into the swamp when already dead after being sacrificed for rituals or she was swept away by the running water in the swamp as she was playing,” Kasirye said.

Kasirye added that, according to the locals, the deceased is not known in the area.

He, however, called upon parents with missing children to rush to Masaka General Hospital mortuary to identify or claim the body.

Kasirye urged parents to be vigilant and ensure their children are not allowed outside during rainy weather or near drainage systems, as these conditions can pose serious risks to their safety.

In June 2024, police in Kiboga arrested a female witch doctor identified as Madinah Nakyeyune, aged 42 years, for murdering an 11-year-old female juvenile, Oliver Namanda, who was reported missing on June 11 for sacrificial rituals. A canine unit was used, and it stopped at Nakyeyune’s shrine, hence her arrest.

Namanda’s body was found with missing internal organs like lungs, heart, and some missing limbs.

These incidents collectively underscore the urgent need for community action, increased law enforcement vigilance, and public education to combat the deeply rooted issues surrounding child sacrifice in Masaka.

The ongoing dialogue among community leaders, law enforcement, and citizens is vital in ensuring the safety and protection of vulnerable children from these horrific practices.