Fighting back tears, he appealed to government authorities and anti–child sacrifice advocates to intervene and ensure justice for his “innocent little girl.”
Grief and anger filled the courtroom in Iganga as a 38-year-old witch doctor accused of sacrificing a five-year-old girl was remanded to prison amid emotional pleas for justice from the victim’s family.
Musa Ekye and Rebecca Nambi, both residents of Bulanga Town Council in Iganga, appeared before Grade One Magistrate Aki Tibenkana on murder charges.
The magistrate did not allow accused persons to take plea, as the case they are faced with is capital in nature and can only be tried before the High Court.
The court heard that the two suspects, together with others still at large, allegedly murdered a five-year-old Sarah Namutebi on January 16, 2026.
Namutebi, a daughter of Baker Musota, was reportedly killed and her body dumped in a nearby swamp, sending shockwaves through the community.
Prosecution, led by Kim Timothy, asked the court to adjourn the matter to allow police to complete investigations before the suspects are committed to the High Court for trial. The magistrate granted the request and remanded the accused to Iganga Prison until March 17.
Outside court, neighbors recounted chilling details surrounding the child’s disappearance and discovery. Asuman Ndunga, who lives near the victim’s family, claimed that Nambi — also their neighbor — may have taken the child to Ekye’s shrine before she was killed. He alleged that after a brief search for the missing girl, Nambi led residents directly to the swamp where the body had been dumped.
Ndunga further alleged that Ekye’s behavior on the day of the incident raised suspicion. While residents rushed to the swamp, he said, Ekye remained at his shrine making numerous phone calls.
Shortly afterward, Ndunga claimed he saw two men fleeing from the shrine, one carrying a bag. Authorities were alerted and, upon searching the shrine, reportedly discovered blood-stained clothes, traditional ritual instruments, and a knife with traces of blood. Ekye was subsequently arrested.
However, Ndunga expressed concern over the handling of the investigation, alleging that one of the suspects he saw fleeing was later released by a police officer attached to Kiyunga. He claimed the released individual has since been threatening and mocking community members over the case.
The victim’s grandmother, Rose Nairuba, broke down as she appealed to authorities to ensure justice is served. She voiced discomfort with how the police have managed the case and called for the re-arrest of the released suspect.
According to her, about 80 people recorded statements, but she alleges that many of those statements were later removed from the police file, with some witnesses reportedly intimidated on grounds that they did not directly see the act committed.
Baker Musota, the child’s father who works in Jinja, said his daughter had been staying with her grandmother at the time of her death. Fighting back tears, he appealed to government authorities and anti–child sacrifice advocates to intervene and ensure justice for his “innocent little girl.”
As the accused were led away in handcuffs, the community of Iganga remained shaken — demanding accountability and answers in a case that has left a family shattered and a nation once again confronting the horror of alleged ritual sacrifice.
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