Inside the suspect’s house, officers recovered Lydia’s body in an advanced state of decomposition. According to police, the body had been wrapped in a mattress cover and tightly bound with ropes, suggesting an attempt to conceal the crime.
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Police are investigating the kidnapping and murder of Babirye Lydia Sengendo, a 52-year-old resident of Kigowa, Ntinda, whose death has heightened concerns over rising violent crime in the Kampala Metropolitan Area.
According to police, Lydia was reported missing at Old Kampala Police Station on June 4, 2026, after she allegedly disappeared while traveling from Busunju along Mityana Road. The case took a disturbing turn when her family began receiving phone calls from unknown individuals using Lydia’s mobile phone and demanding a ransom of sh19m for her release.
Relatives say they managed to raise and pay sh8m in a desperate attempt to secure her freedom. Despite the payment, communication with the kidnappers became sporadic, prompting fears for her safety.
The ransom demands triggered a joint security operation involving police investigators and intelligence teams. Through a series of investigations, detectives identified two key suspects, Kagga Shafiq and Ntege Abubakar, who were allegedly linked to the kidnapping.
Police later arrested Ntege in Nateete. During interrogation, he reportedly led detectives to his residence in Kiteredde Village, Kakiri Town Council, Wakiso District, where investigators made a gruesome discovery.
Inside the suspect’s house, officers recovered Lydia’s body in an advanced state of decomposition. According to police, the body had been wrapped in a mattress cover and tightly bound with ropes, suggesting an attempt to conceal the crime. Investigators also discovered a freshly dug grave within the compound, raising suspicions that the suspects intended to secretly bury the victim.
The scene was processed by forensic experts before the body was transported to the KCCA City Mortuary for a postmortem examination to establish the exact cause of death and provide further evidence for the investigation.
Both Kagga Shafiq and Ntege Abubakar are currently in police custody as investigations continue. Authorities say efforts are ongoing to establish whether additional suspects were involved in the kidnapping and murder.
Speaking on the matter, Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Public Relations Officer ASP Luke Owoyesigyire said investigations are still underway and that more information will be released as inquiries progress.
The killing comes amid growing public concern over insecurity across Kampala and its surrounding districts. The incident follows the recent death of Uganda Rugby Cranes and Stanbic Black Pirates player Sydney Gongodyo, 27, who succumbed to injuries at Mulago National Referral Hospital on June 5, 2026, following a mob attack in Upper Naguru. Police have since arrested three suspects in connection with that case.
The two incidents have intensified calls for stronger security measures and swift action against criminal gangs operating within the Kampala Metropolitan Area, as residents demand greater protection and justice for victims of violent crime.
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