EXCLUSIVE: Police in Ntungamo have arrested three suspects in connection with the kidnapping and double murder of Ariho Eliajah, a male juvenile aged 01 years and 10 months, a resident of Omukibale Cell, Kibingo Parish, Nyakyera Subcounty in Ntungamo District, and Ainembabazi Mellon, a female adult a resident of Nyakishenyi Subcounty in Rukungiri District.

The suspects include;

Namanya Innocent, a male adult, a businessman and a resident of Kirera Cell, Rwoho Town Council, Ruhaama East Subcounty in Ntungamo District, is the father of the deceased child.

Nuwahereza Janepher, a female adult aged 33, is an apostle at Healers Church Ministry Karama and the second wife of Namanya Innocent. 

Mutesigensi Alex, a male adult aged 34, was a boda boda rider that was hired to transport the kidnapper.

It’s alleged that on the 06/10/2024 at about 1200/c, the complainant, Natukunda Create, reported a case of kidnapping of her child Ariho Eliajah at CPS Ntungamo by a lady only known to her by face while at Kahaija Church of Nazaren at Akatojo Nyakyera Town Council in Ntungamo and taking an unknown destination.

Investigations into the matter commenced, and tracking of the suspects started.

The kidnapper was later identified as Ainembabazi Mellon, deceased now that was hired by the father of the child. Having kidnapped the victim from the mother, she resisted handing him over to Mutesigensi Alex, the boda boda rider, after knowing that the plan was to kill the child and instead moved with the victim to her home in Nyakishenyi Rukungiri district.

When the suspects realized that Ainembabazi Mellon was trying to fail their plan, they formed a plan to kill her too.

It was established that on 07/10/2024, while using the motor vehicle UBL 783W Toyota Premio being driven by Namanya Innocent, he moved with the other two suspects to the home of Ainembabazi Mellon to pick her and the child.

While in the car, the suspects killed Ainembabazi Mellon. They packed her body in a sack, filled it with stones, and threw it in the waters of Kanyehunde. They turned to the child, killed him too, tied his body with clothes, placed a heavy stone on the body, and threw it in the same waters where they were retrieved on the 8/10/2024.

According to investigations, it was established that Namanya Innocent and Natukunda Create had long-term domestic violence issues, and their matter was in court.