A horrifying incident unfolded in Kanungu District as 13-year-old Constance Kakuru, a primary pupil, was lured, defiled, and murdered by a suspect identified as Joshua Turyasingura. The tragic event took place on January 4, 2024, when Kakuru, along with her twin sister and two boys, encountered the suspect while on their way to pick up their bag.
According to Police spokesperson Fred Enanga, Turyasingura allegedly instructed Kakuru to buy local waragi for him. Despite pleas from her sisters and the boys to return home, Kakuru chose to stay with the suspect. The next day, her absence prompted a search, leading to the discovery of her body in a banana plantation around 9:00 am.
Enanga described the gruesome scene, stating that Kakuru’s body was found naked, with signs of sexual assault, torture, and strangulation. A post-mortem was conducted at Kihihi Hospital, and the body was subsequently handed over to the relatives for burial.
The police have launched a major manhunt for Turyasingura, urging the public to provide any information that could lead to his arrest. Enanga condemned such heinous acts against young girls, emphasizing their right to life, protection, and well-being.
The incident adds to the concerning trend of crimes against young girls, as highlighted in the Annual Crime Report 2022, which reported a total of 8,960 cases of defilement and 1,623 cases of rape. While defilement cases showed a 15.9% decrease compared to the previous year, rape cases increased by 9.2%.
