Kitagwenda, Uganda – Police in Kitagwenda District have arrested Amarakutunga Levi, a local musician and male councillor representing persons with disabilities, for allegedly murdering a four-year-old child in what is suspected to be a ritual sacrifice.
The tragic incident unfolded in Nyaruhanda Village when the child went missing on March 16, 2025, after being sent to a neighbor’s house.
A frantic search ensued, and the child’s lifeless body was discovered the following morning in a nearby bush, sparking fear and outrage in the community.
Authorities launched an intensive investigation, employing the services of the K-9 unit.
The trained police dogs tracked a scent that led officers directly to Levi’s residence, located approximately 300 meters from the crime scene.
During the operation, investigators discovered a suspected murder weapon—a panga with bloodstains—about 200 meters from where the child’s body was found.
“A suspected panga with bloodstains was also recovered about 200 meters from the body,” police said in a statement.
A subsequent search at the suspect’s home yielded further incriminating evidence.
Officers found a bucket filled with water containing bloodied clothes and noticed bloodstains on the walls of one of the rooms, raising suspicions of a gruesome crime.
“Further search at the suspect’s home yielded incriminating evidence, including a bucket filled with water containing clothes and blood and blood stains on the wall of one of the rooms,” the police statement added.
Levi was immediately taken into custody as police intensified investigations into the suspected ritual killing. Authorities have assured the public that justice will be served and urged residents to remain calm as the case unfolds.
The shocking incident has left the local community in mourning, with residents calling for stringent measures to curb ritual sacrifices, which have been a recurrent issue in parts of Uganda.
The police have vowed to leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of justice for the young victim and their grieving family.
“The Police in Kitagwenda District have arrested Amarakutunga Levi, a musician and male councillor representing persons with disabilities, for allegedly murdering a 4-year-old child from Nyaruhanda Village in a suspected ritual sacrifice,” police confirmed.
Investigations are ongoing, and Levi is expected to face murder charges in court.
