Two young nursery school pupils who went missing while returning home from school last Monday have been found murdered, with their bodies reportedly discovered dumped in a bush in Lwengo District.
The deceased have been identified as Hillary Ssebulime, 6, and Lawrence Muhumuza, 4, both pupils of Good Hope Nursery School in Kyakweribiire.
The children went missing on November 2, 2026, in Kyamataffali Village, Mpumudde Parish, Ngugwe Sub-county, triggering a search by their families and local residents.
John Ssengonzi, Ssebulime’s father, said he was shocked to learn that his son had not returned home from school as expected.
“He went to school with his colleagues as usual on Monday, but by 1pm, the time they normally return home, my son had not arrived. His mother called me and informed me that he was missing,” Ssengonzi said.
Ruben Tumushabe, Muhumuza’s father, suspects that the perpetrator could be someone familiar with the area, citing the behaviour of police sniffer dogs during the search.
He said the dogs appeared to concentrate their search around the village, raising suspicions that the person responsible could be a local resident.
The killings have sparked fear and anger among residents, some of whom suspect the involvement of traditional healers, alleging that the children may have been killed for ritual purposes. However, these allegations have not been independently verified, and police have yet to establish the motive behind the murders.
Greater Masaka Regional Police spokesperson Twaha Kasirye confirmed the incident, saying investigations were underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the killings and apprehend those responsible.
Kasirye condemned the murders and urged parents to take greater responsibility for their children’s safety, particularly those attending nursery school.
“We condemn such acts and urge parents to always pick up their young children from school. How can a nursery school child be expected to find their way home alone? We condemn this kind of negligence by parents,” Kasirye said.
Deputy Resident District Commissioner Bonaventure Lwatangabo also condemned the killings and vowed to launch an operation targeting suspected fraudulent traditional healers in the area.
“We are going to start an operation targeting the shrines of fake traditional healers. If we establish that they are behind such acts, we shall take action, including burning down their shrines,” Lwatangabo said.
Police investigations are ongoing to establish the motive behind the killings and bring those responsible to justice.
