Uganda: 4-year-old boy kidnapped, murdered after parents fail to pay Shs6m ransom

Police in Mubende District have recovered the body of a four-year-old boy who was reportedly kidnapped and later murdered by a suspect who demanded a ransom from the child's family.

Kazungu Daniel had been reported missing on March 9 by his father, Eric Baingana, a resident of Nalutete LC1 in Kiyonga Parish, Kigando Sub-county in Mubende District.

According to police, the boy disappeared from his home in the early hours of the morning under mysterious circumstances.

The spokesperson for the Uganda Police Force in the Wamala Region, SSP Lameck Kigozi, said the child's father realised his son was missing when he woke up at about 5 am to prepare his children for school.

Kigozi said the family discovered that the rear door of the house had been left open while other family members were still asleep.

"On checking the children's sleeping area, Baingana realised that his four-year-old son was missing," he said.

Police believe the suspect broke into the house and abducted the child.

Later, the suspected kidnapper reportedly contacted the boy's father and demanded a ransom of Shs6 million.

The family, however, managed to mobilise only Shs1 million, which was sent to the suspect.

Investigators later established that the child had already been killed.

A joint team comprising operatives from the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence and the police Flying Squad launched a tracking operation that led to the arrest of the suspect in Kibaati, Kansanga, in Makindye Division of Kampala.

The suspect has been identified as Emmanuel Muwanguzi, a resident of Kisonde LC1 in Rwigo Parish, Kibaale District.

Police say the suspect allegedly confessed to kidnapping the child, killing him and dumping the body in a pit latrine belonging to one Frank Rwabutariye in Nalutete village.

On Thursday morning, officers from the police fire brigade retrieved the child's body from the pit latrine and transported it to the mortuary at Mubende Regional Referral Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Police said the suspect has been charged with murder and will be produced in court once investigations are complete.

Authorities have condemned the incident and urged the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities within their communities.