Residents of Nabisweera Sub-county in Nakasongola District are mourning the brutal murder of a four-year-old girl, whose body was discovered on Thursday following a two-day search.
The victim, Florence Nakibuuka, was a Primary One pupil at Namaasa Church of Uganda Primary School. She went missing on March 25, prompting an immediate joint search by local residents and the Savannah Regional Police.
According to a police statement issued by ASP Sam Twiineamazima, the Savannah Region Police PRO, Nakibuuka was reported missing around 5:00 PM on Wednesday when she failed to return home from school.
After nearly 20 hours of searching, her body was discovered around midday on Thursday in a bushy area approximately 500 meters from her school.
The police report indicated that the child had been kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and murdered. The crime scene showed signs of extreme violence.
“The body was found face-up with legs spread apart, lower body naked, wearing only a green school sweater and one brown shoe on the left foot. Her underwear was aside, and her dress was torn and tied around the neck, indicating she was kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and killed by strangulation,” the statement read.
Nakibuuka’s body was taken to Nakasongola Health Center IV for a formal medical examination as investigations continue.
The tragedy has left the residents of Namaasa Village in deep mourning and raised urgent concerns about the safety of children traveling to and from school. Police have pledged to apprehend the suspects, though no arrests have been made so far.