Police in Busoga East region have arrested five suspects in connection with the kidnap and gruesome murder of a six-year-old boy, Loy Taaka.
Taaka, a resident of Buwembula village, Muterere sub-county in Bugiri district went missing on November 1, prompting his caretaker, Moses Okello, to file a complaint at Bugiri Central police station.
A joint team of detectives and crime intelligence officers immediately launched a search operation that led to the arrest of Allan Waiswa, the prime suspect, from his home in the same village.
During interrogation and a scene reconstruction exercise supervised, Waiswa, also Taaka’s nephew, confessed to masterminding the abduction with the help of four accomplices: Geoffrey Baliraine, Umar Osogoli, Isaac Mulondo, and a woman identified only as Phiona.
According to Busoga East Regional police commander Edirisa Kyeyune, Waiswa told investigators that they targeted the boy because they believed his uncle, described as a wealthy and compassionate man, would quickly pay a ransom of Shs 50 million for the child’s release.
He revealed that the group used multiple phones to contact Okello, issuing threats and demanding payment. However, when police investigations began to close in on the kidnappers, Waiswa allegedly panicked and decided to kill the boy to cover up his crime.
According to police, Waiswa buried Taaka’s body behind his house, hoping to conceal the evidence and continue living in the village unnoticed. Busoga East police spokesperson, Michael Kasadha, confirmed that detectives later exhumed the decomposing remains, which were identified by Okello.
The body was taken to Bugiri Hospital mortuary for a postmortem before being handed over to the family for burial. Kasadha said that exhibits of evidential value were recovered from the scene and will be used to support the ongoing investigation. He added that all suspects have undergone mental health assessments and were found to be of sound mind.
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