Police are holding two suspects accused of orchestrating the kidnap of a seven-year-old boy and later killing him after demanding ransom.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke told journalists on Monday that Osber Turinayo was kidnapped on June 12 from Kisoroma village, Kitongore parish, Kisojo sub-county in Kyenjojo District as he returned with colleagues from a nearby bar where they had been watching a movie.
‘Preliminary findings indicate that Turinayo went with his brothers to watch a movie at a bar within the neighbourhood but he didn’t return home. Efforts by the family and residents to trace him proved unsuccessful,’ Rusoke said.
Three days later on June 15, the family received a call from an unknown person demanding Shs1.5 million ransom or else they would kill the seven-year-old child.
Rusoke said the family had earlier reported the matter to police and investigations had kicked off.
‘Police tracked and arrested Isaiah Manyindo, 26 and Erias Twimukye, 17 who during interrogation, confessed to having kidnapped and killed the seven-year-old. They guided police to the crime scene and the lifeless body was found covered under tree leaves,’ he said.
Mr Rusoke said investigations into the kidnap and subsequent murder continue before suspects are arraigned before courts of law.
He warned parents and guardians against negligence.
‘We send a message to parents to not allow children to move out at night. How could a child of 7 years end up at a bar at 9pm. We are going to punish suspects, but we shall not recover the life of the 7-year-old victim. This victim lost his life because some adults here and there didn’t do their work,’ Rusoke said.
The kidnap and murder add to a number of similar cases registered in the country.
Earlier this month, businesswoman Lydia Babirye Ssengendo, 52, was abducted from her home in Ntinda, Kampala. Kidnappers demanded Shs19 million ransom from her family. Despite Shs9 million being paid, they killed her. Her decomposing body was later recovered hidden in a house in Kiteredde, Kakiri Town Council, Wakiso District. Two primary suspects were tracked by security, arrested and have since been remanded to Luzira.
A week earlier, police in Katwe registered another disturbing incident involving seven-year-old girl Nancy Kenyangi who reportedly vanished after a man promised to buy her chapati. She had left briefly to buy groceries and went missing.
CCTV footage from a nearby building showed two unidentified men walking with a young girl but due to poor visibility, their identities remain unknown. Police are still investigating the case, which has now exceeded three weeks without any breakthrough.
Authorities warn that such cases are not isolated. The annual police crime report 2025 shows 118 cases of kidnap were registered compared to 159 cases in 2024.