news 1 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Nakasongola Child Murder Sparks Renewed Calls for Child Safety Measures
The tragic discovery of four-year-old Florence Nakibuuka's body in Nakasongola District after she went missing from school has reignited debates on child protection. Recent kidnappings in Wakiso and Mubende highlight a disturbing pattern of abductions targeting young children. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/nakasongola-kidnap-and-murder-reawakens-child-safety-debate-5409856
A heartbreaking incident in Namaasa village, Nakasongola District, has left the community in mourning. On March 25, 2026, Primary One pupil Florence Nakibuuka left her school at Namaasa Church of Uganda Primary School via a bushy path around 1pm. She never made it home, despite the 20-minute walk.
Her parents waited anxiously for two hours. School staff confirmed she had departed with other pupils. Father Robert Kisinde recounted arriving home to learn futile searches had been made.
Police investigations revealed the young girl was kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and strangled. Her body was found on March 26 in a bush 500 meters from the school.
Nakasongola District Education Officer Sam Mbangire called it a stark reminder for guardians and teachers to prevent children from walking alone. District LC5 chairperson Sam Kigula drew parallels to a 2025 kidnapping in nearby Kyangogolo village, where suspect Erisa Asingwire lured a three-year-old away from home demanding Shs10m ransom before his arrest.
Recent cases underscore the urgency. On March 8 in Wakiso’s Mattuga, police rescued a three-year-old from kidnappers seeking Shs40m via WhatsApp. Days later, on March 9 in Mubende, a four-year-old boy was abducted from home, ransom partially paid, but murdered and dumped in a pit-latrine. Suspect Emmanuel Muwanguzi has confessed and faces charges.
These events have reawakened national discussions on bolstering child safety amid rising abduction threats.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)