Bodies and Skulls Exhumed in Kamengo Shrine

The Uganda Police Force has exhumed two bodies and six human skulls at the residence of a suspected witch doctor in Lunyerere, Kamengo, Mpigi District. 

Trouble befell the suspect, Ivan Muwanga following his arrest on Tuesday. His arrest followed a report made by a young girl who escaped from him and alerted her parents, who then informed police amid rising cases of missing children in the area.

After his arrest, Muwanga denied involvement in human sacrifice or operating a shrine. This prompted police to conduct a search at his home on Wednesday following reports of suspected child sacrifice. According to Lydia Tumushabe, the Katonga Region Police Spokesperson, officers—assisted by residents—exhumed two bodies with missing parts and recovered six human skulls on the first day of the search. Among the recovered remains are those of an elderly man in a suit and a minor with missing body parts. Some residents described the suspect as not only a witch doctor but also a serial killer.

Mpigi Deputy Resident District Commissioner Saad Mwange said several human body parts—including arms, teeth, legs, and skulls—were recovered and require DNA analysis. “We have recovered human body parts, which have been taken to Mulago City for DNA identification. We urge anyone who has lost loved ones to come forward and provide samples. We will continue exhuming remains tomorrow, as we suspect that more human remains may still be buried,” Mwange said.

Police plan to use a bulldozer on Thursday to excavate the entire house— which also served as a shrine—in a bid to uncover additional remains. Police said the home is now considered a crime scene, and investigations have been expanded. 

According to annual police reports, such heinous acts are often driven by desperation and exploitation by unqualified practitioners who prey on vulnerable individuals seeking quick solutions. However, the secretive nature of these crimes poses significant challenges in collecting evidence and securing convictions.