Police in Arua City have arrested the parents of a two-month-old baby girl as investigations continue into circumstances surrounding her death in a case that has shocked residents of Ayivu East Division.
The deceased, identified as Macline Naweza, was found dead on Monday afternoon at Rubu Nyai Cell, Aroi Ward, Ayivu East Division. Her biological parents, Samuel Dradeyo and Comfort Draduyo, have been detained to assist police investigations into the suspected murder.
According to preliminary police findings, the baby’s mother reportedly left the child sleeping on a mattress in their bedroom under the care of the father before going to a nearby garden to collect greens for lunch.
She allegedly returned about an hour later and found both the baby and the father missing from the house. She raised an alarm, prompting neighbours and community members to launch a search.
The search ended tragically when the infant was discovered inside a green plastic bucket commonly used for storing drinking water. Police said the baby was found with her head facing downwards and legs upwards. They also noted visible bruises around the neck, although the bucket contained no water.
The matter was reported to police, who immediately visited the scene, documented evidence, and conveyed the body to Arua Regional Referral Hospital for a postmortem examination.
West Nile Regional Police spokesperson SSP Josephine Angucia confirmed the arrests and said investigations were ongoing.
“We have arrested the biological parents of the deceased infant to help us establish the exact circumstances under which the child died,” Angucia said.
She said detectives were treating the case as murder and were awaiting the postmortem report to guide further investigations.
“Our officers visited and examined the scene, recorded statements from relevant witnesses, and recovered evidence that will support the ongoing inquiry. The body was taken to Arua Regional Referral Hospital for postmortem examination,” she added.
Police registered a case of murder under Ayivu East Division CRB 108/2026.
Angucia urged members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with investigators.
“We call upon anyone with information that may assist investigations to come forward and share it with the police. We also urge the community to remain calm as detectives work to establish the truth surrounding this unfortunate incident,” she said.
The two suspects remain in police custody pending completion of investigations.
