Baby Found Strangled, Stepmother and House Help Arrested in Kyakwanzi

(Kyankwanzi) – Police in Kyankwanzi District have arrested two suspects in connection with the death of a one-year-old child whose body was found in a pit at her parents’ home in Kiryanongo Subcounty. The deceased, identified as Majorine Nambuya, was reported missing on September 12, 2024. Her parents, Geofrey Katende and Tolofisa Nakafeero, had gone to the garden, leaving the child under the care of her stepmother, Kasifa Nabakooza, and in the company of her 8 year old brother.

According to Wamala Region Police spokesperson Rachael Kawala, the baby had been playing with other children before she went missing. The children, under the care of Nabakooza, had been sent to pick guavas from the neighborhood. Upon their return, they discovered that Majorine had disappeared. A search was initiated by Nabakooza, her male house help, identified only as Batala, and the other children.

The baby’s body was discovered in a freshly dug pit at the family home later that same day. Preliminary police investigations indicate that the cause of death was strangulation, and there is evidence that she was sexually abused prior to her death. Both Nabakooza and Batala were taken into custody by Thursday evening as the police continue their investigation into the matter.

This tragic incident comes amid concerning statistics highlighted in the annual police crime report, which revealed that Uganda experiences an average of 25 fatalities each day due to various forms of violence, including murders and accidents.

Authorities are now piecing together the circumstances that led to the baby’s death, as the community reels from the shock of the horrific crime. Police have assured the public that all measures are being taken to bring justice to the family of the deceased.

The police are urging anyone with additional information to come forward as the investigation progresses.