27-Year-Old Man Arrested in Rukungiri for Defiling and Murdering 5-Year-Old Girl

The police in Rukungiri have arrested a 27-year-old man identified as Fred Nasasira for allegedly defiling and murdering a 5-year-old child.

The deceased has been identified as Gift Amutuhaire, daughter of Samuel Niwamdinda, residents of Kanyamitwe Cell, Central Ward, Kebisoni Town Council, Rukungiri District.

Elly Maate, the Kigezi Regional PRO, says that the incident happened on June 16, 2024. It is alleged that on the fateful day at around 1:00 PM, the deceased left her mother, Ntegyerize Sarah, and her elder brother, Ahurire Osbert, aged 9, at home and went to visit her grandmother, Korubaro Beatrice, about 100 meters away.

Upon arrival, the child joined Nasasira Fred (suspect) and Allan Akanyijuka on the farm where they were going to give water to the cows. After feeding the cows, Akanyijuka fetched a bucket of water to take home, but Nasasira poured it out, forcing him to return to the well.

On his way back from the well, Akanyijuka saw Nasasira carrying the child on his back, moving uphill on the farm.

Later, the child’s mother came looking for her at the grandmother’s home, only to be told that Nasasira had taken her and they had not returned home.

In the evening, it is alleged that the suspect sneaked into the home, ate supper, and disappeared; however, the deceased was not seen anywhere.

On June 17, 2024, the mother reported a case of kidnapping at Kebisoni Police Station. Efforts to trace the deceased were made, and on June 19, 2024, at around 7:00 am, her body was found buried in the bush.

Maate says that the police were alerted, the crime scene was examined and documented, and the suspect was arrested. He is currently in custody at Rukungiri CPS, and the body has been taken for postmortem at Rwakabengo HC III mortuary.