By Our Reporter
KIBOGA
The High Court in Kiboga presided over by Hon. Justice Jameson Karemani has sentenced two witch doctors in separate cases involving the ritualistic killings of three children in Kiboga District.
The convictions secured in the cases of Uganda v. Sulaiman Sentongo and Uganda v. Madina Nakyeyune underscore the commitment of the ODPP and law enforcement agencies to bringing perpetrators of heinous crimes to justice.
The sentences passed on Thursday, 27th August, 2026 involved Sulaiman Sentongo and Madina Nakyeyune.
*Uganda v. Sulaiman Sentongo*
On April 3, 2024, 2-year-old Nantongo Sylvia and 5-year-old Nakasumba Esther left their mother in the garden at about 1:00 p.m. It was the last time they were seen alive. Announcements were made and searches conducted, but the children could not be found. The following morning, school-going children discovered parts of human remains along the Busunju–Kiboga Highway and alerted the Local Council, which notified the police.
Investigators visited the crime scene with a trained dog, which led them to the shrine of Sulaiman Sentongo. Upon seeing police investigators and residents approaching his home, Sentongo fled Kiboga. A search of the shrine led to the recovery of several items associated with witchcraft practices. The dog subsequently assisted police in locating the victims’ heads, which had been concealed in a kiln near a church.
Other body parts were recovered near a stream, with intestines reportedly found hanging from a tree. The victims’ bodies were missing several organs, including the hearts, lungs, livers, uteruses, and genitals.
Crime Intelligence and the Flying Squad tracked Sulaiman Sentongo to Kampala, where they arrested him and his sister, Namuleme. Namuleme had allegedly sent him money for transport to facilitate his escape to Kampala. While he was charged with human sacrifice, Namuleme was charged with being an accessory after the fact.
The prosecution was led by Mr. David Baxter Bakibinga, Chief State Attorney, and Mr. Stephen Ariong, Senior State Attorney in the High Court presided over by Hon. Justice Jameson Karemani. The Human Trafficking Institute (HTI) also provided support to the prosecution.
During the trial, the Know Your Customer Records, Mobile Money (MoMo) Records, Call Data Records (CDRs), and the DNA Analysis Report were tendered in evidence.
In his well-reasoned judgment, Hon. Justice Jamson Karemani, concurring with the assessors’ opinion, convicted Sulaiman Sentongo. The court sentenced him to life imprisonment. However, his sister, Namuleme, was acquitted of the charge of being an accessory after the fact.
Uganda v. Madina Nakyeyune
In another ritualistic killing case, 11-year-old Olive Namaganda left home for Kiboga Town to sell maize on June 10, 2024. It was the last time she was seen alive. Two days later, her remains were discovered in Kirurumba Village. Her torso was missing, including the heart, liver, kidneys, uterus, and genitals.
Police visited the crime scene with a trained dog, Hippy, which tracked the scent of the suspect to the shrine of witch doctor Madina Nakyeyune. Several items associated with witchcraft were recovered from her multiple shrines. Among the items recovered near the victim’s remains was a piece of cloth containing Namaganda’s DNA.
Following her arrest by the police, Madina Nakyeyune was prosecuted for human sacrifice again by Mr. David Baxter Bakibinga, and Mr. Stephen Ariong in the High Court of Kiboga, presided over by Hon. Justice Jamson Karemani.
The DNA Analysis Report was tendered in evidence. The dog handler also testified about Hippy’s training and experience, explaining that the dog had contributed to over 300 successful arrests and convictions in six years.
In a well-reasoned judgment, Hon. Justice Jamson Karemani, having considered the evidence and concurred with the assessors’ opinion, convicted Madina Nakyeyune.
The court sentenced Madina Nakyeyune to 35 years’ imprisonment.
