“Upon discovering the body, it was evident the suspect had died during the illegal detention. The priest, meanwhile, had fled the scene,” said ASP Kasadha.
The Police in Buyende district are searching for a Catholic parish priest who is accused of having ordered for the arrest, assault, and unlawful detention of a 14-year-old boy who later died under suspicious circumstances.
Busoga North Police spokesperson ASP Michael Kasadha has identified the suspect as Rev. Fr. Silver Owori Osuna (33) of Wesunire Parish in Buyende Town Council.
It is alleged that Fr. Owori led the efforts to apprehend Joseph Kirya, a juvenile resident of Wesunire, on suspicion of theft.
Kirya’s body was discovered the following day in a store on church premises, where he had reportedly been locked overnight.
According to preliminary police investigations, the incident began after Fr. Owori claimed that his sh5m had gone missing from his room in his absence.
Believing the boy had stolen the money, the priest reportedly solicited the help of a driver, Robert Gabula, and another man, only identified as Waiswa, to capture the teenager.
“The trio seized the boy on the evening of Friday, August 1, 2025, at around 5:00pm, took him to the church compound, and allegedly beat him before locking him in a parish store,” said Kasadha, the Busoga North police spokesperson.
The following morning, on August 2, Fr. Owori reported a theft case to Police and requested officers to retrieve the suspect from church custody.
However, when an officer arrived at the scene, he was shown to the store where the boy had been locked, only to find a dead body.
“Upon discovering the body, it was evident the suspect had died during the illegal detention. The priest, meanwhile, had fled the scene,” said ASP Kasadha.
A team of detectives was immediately dispatched to the church. The crime scene was documented, and the body examined before it was released to the family for burial.
ASP Kasadha condemned the incident as a blatant case of mob justice and illegal detention -particularly disturbing given the alleged involvement of a religious leader.
“We condemn the acts of illegal detention and mob justice perpetrated on the juvenile. While any citizen may effect an arrest, the authority to detain suspects rests solely with the police,” he said.
Authorities have intensified efforts to locate Fr. Owori and his alleged accomplices.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of their involvement and bring those responsible to justice.
The death of young Joseph Kirya has sparked outrage and grief in Buyende, with community members and child rights advocates demanding accountability and tighter oversight of how suspected crimes are handled within religious institutions.
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