Authorities in Kasese District have arrested a 28-year-old woman in connection with the disappearance of six-year-old Dalton Masereka, whose vanishing from Kagando II Cell in Kisinga Town Council has sparked growing alarm across the community.
The suspect, identified as Doreen Biira, a neighbour of the missing child’s family, is said to have confronted the boy over the alleged theft of two chicks from her home.
According to Masereka’s father, Edward Muhindo, Biira had demanded that the boy pay a fine of Shs77,000 shortly before he disappeared on May 12.
“My son was scared and confused after being fined. We haven’t seen him since that day,” Muhindo told reporters, his voice filled with anguish.
The arrest of Biira marks a critical development in the ongoing investigation.
Authorities have not disclosed further details about her detention but confirmed that she remains in custody as the search continues.
Masereka’s disappearance is the latest in a series of troubling child-related cases in Kasese District.
Just weeks earlier, on April 4, 2025, a one-and-a-half-year-old child named Kismart Mumbere went missing from Kasese Municipality.
The prime suspect in that case, Morian Mbambu, is currently on remand at Mubuku Government Prisons, but the child has not yet been found.
The number of children reported missing in Kasese since April now stands at four, according to local officials.
Residents of Kisinga have launched community-wide searches and called for increased vigilance, urging parents and guardians to take extra care in monitoring their children’s movements.
Local leaders, too, have appealed for public cooperation, noting that any information—no matter how minor—could be vital in tracing Dalton.
“The safety of our children is now a serious concern. We are urging all residents to be on alert and to report anything suspicious,” said one area leader.
Police say the search for Dalton Masereka remains active, and they have encouraged anyone with leads to contact local authorities immediately.
Meanwhile, the child’s family continues to hold onto hope that he will be found alive and unharmed.