Mbale City, Uganda: Authorities have disclosed that a man apprehended in connection with the defilement and murder of a 15-year-old student in Mbale City has confessed to taking the lives of 49 individuals as part of alleged ritual sacrifices, supposedly directed by a witch doctor.
The suspect was taken into custody over the weekend due to accusations of defiling and murdering Sumaya Edrisa Binti, a 15-year-old Senior Two student at Nakaloke Secondary School. Her body was discovered in a lodge room in Mbale City on March 23, 2025.Police reports indicate that the suspect cut off Binti’s index finger and collected her blood before escaping from the scene.
Crime Intelligence operatives, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police Ismael Ssenono, apprehended the suspect on Saturday in Budebela Cell, Mayuge Town Council, after months of surveillance and tracking.Investigators involved in the case report that the suspect has admitted to killing Binti and claimed responsibility for 48 other similar murders.
According to a senior police officer, “The suspect informed detectives that a witch doctor requested human blood and an index finger for ritualistic practices, and he allegedly received Shs5 million for providing these.”Currently, the suspect is being held at Iganga Central Police Station, awaiting transfer to Mbale City as investigations into Binti’s murder continue.
The police are examining the validity of the suspect’s claims, noting an existing human trafficking case against him that shares similarities with Binti’s case.“We are diligently reviewing his statements regarding the alleged deaths of the 49 girls, especially since he has another human trafficking case pending in court that resembles Binti’s circumstances,” the officer stated.
Investigators highlighted that, aside from Binti, the suspect has yet to disclose the names or identities of the other supposed victims.
Details of Binti’s murder indicate that the suspect checked into Grace Guest House in Mbale City around 9:00 am on March 23, requesting a room for an overnight stay.
According to police, the guest house receptionist, Peter Nabende, showed the suspect several rooms before he chose Room 11, citing size preferences. He informed the management that his girlfriend would later join him. After paying, he was left alone.
Approximately four hours later, staff members entered the room to find Binti’s naked body restrained to the bed with a mosquito net and one finger severed. The suspect had already fled.
In the midst of this discovery, police indicate that the suspect called the guest house manager, suggesting they check Room 11 for their belongings. The murder was reported to Nkoma Police Station, but efforts to track down the suspect faced significant delays for months.
Arrested in Mayuge
On June 29, police apprehended the suspect in Mayuge District while he was reportedly at a guest house with a 16-year-old girl. He was charged with human trafficking, brought to court, and remanded to prison, later securing bail on October 16.After his release, it’s alleged that the suspect reconnected with the same traditional healer to continue participating in ritual activities, leading to his subsequent re-arrest over the weekend as investigators closed in on him.
Police are continuing their investigation to identify traditional healers and accomplices who may be linked to the suspected ritual killings.
