KAKUMIRO, Uganda — Police in Kakumiro District have arrested a 27-year-old man accused of allegedly faking the death of his child in an attempt to obtain money from his family for burial expenses.
The suspect, identified as Nicholas Mutegeki, a resident of Kiyora Village in Bugambe Sub-County, Kikuube District, allegedly shocked mourners after a coffin brought for burial was opened and found containing a banana sucker instead of a child’s body.
According to police, Mutegeki called his father, Kato Kabaleega, on June 15, claiming that his child had died and requested Shs350,000 to help transport the body to Kakumiro for burial.
Police say after his father declined to provide the money, Mutegeki allegedly devised another plan by wrapping a banana sucker in cloth, placing it inside a coffin and presenting it as the body of his deceased child.
The alleged deception was uncovered when relatives and neighbours gathered for the burial ceremony and demanded to view the body before burial.
Mutegeki reportedly resisted the request, raising suspicion among mourners. When the coffin was eventually opened, the crowd discovered that it contained only a banana sucker wrapped in cloth.
After his alleged scheme was exposed, Mutegeki reportedly fled the scene and went into hiding.
His sister, Irene Mutegeki, said the family was left shocked by the incident, describing it as something they never expected to witness.
Village elder Wilson Katabazi said the incident should serve as a warning to families to carefully handle emergency money requests from relatives.
Kisiita Town Council LCIII Chairperson Aston Tumushabe condemned the alleged act, urging young people to seek honest means of survival rather than misleading their families.
Albertine Region Police spokesperson Julius Hakiza said security teams, together with residents, launched a search for Mutegeki after the incident.
Police later arrested him on Sunday while he was allegedly hiding in a nearby bush. He is currently detained at Kakumiro Central Police Station and is facing charges of creating a public nuisance.
The case comes amid growing concerns over unusual fraud schemes in the Albertine region. Last month, police in Hoima arrested two men accused of staging their own kidnapping in an attempt to demand Shs2 million from relatives before they were tracked down and arrested.
