Summary:
- SP Samson Kasasira, the Rwizi Region Police Spokesperson, confirmed the arrests and identified the suspects as Namanya Innocent, a businessman and resident of Kirera Cell, Rwahi Town Council, Ruhaama East Subcounty in Ntungamo District, who is the father of the deceased child; Nuwahereza Janepher (33), an apostle at Healers Church Ministry Karama and the second wife of Namanya Innocent; and Mutesigensi Alex (34), a boda boda rider hired to transport the kidnapper.
NTUNGAMO: Police in Ntungamo District have arrested three suspects in connection with the kidnapping and double murder of one-year and ten-month-old Ariho Eliajah, a resident of Omukibale Cell, Kibingo Parish, Nyakyera Subcounty in Ntungamo District, and Ainembabazi Mellon, a resident of Nyakishenyi Subcounty in Rukungiri District.
SP Samson Kasasira, the Rwizi Region Police Spokesperson, confirmed the arrests and identified the suspects as Namanya Innocent, a businessman and resident of Kirera Cell, Rwahi Town Council, Ruhaama East Subcounty in Ntungamo District, who is the father of the deceased child; Nuwahereza Janepher (33), an apostle at Healers Church Ministry Karama and the second wife of Namanya Innocent; and Mutesigensi Alex (34), a boda boda rider hired to transport the kidnapper.
According to SP Kasasira, on October 6, 2024, at around 12:00 PM, the complainant, Natukunda Create, reported the kidnapping of her child, Ariho Eliajah, to Ntungamo Central Police Station.
She explained that a woman, whom she only recognized by face, abducted the child while they were at Kahaija Church of Nazaren in Akatojo, Nyakyera Town Council, and took him to an unknown destination.
“Investigations into the matter commenced, and the suspects were tracked,” SP Kasasira said.
He added, “The kidnapper was later identified as Ainembabazi Mellon, who is now deceased. She had been hired by the child’s father. After kidnapping the child from his mother, Ainembabazi resisted handing him over to Mutesigensi Alex, the boda boda rider, upon realizing that the plan was to kill the child. Instead, she fled with the boy to her home in Nyakishenyi, Rukungiri District.”
When the suspects discovered that Ainembabazi was trying to foil their plan, they devised a plot to kill her as well.
“It was established that on October 7, 2024, the suspects, using motor vehicle UBL 783W (a Toyota Premio driven by Namanya Innocent), went to Ainembabazi’s home to retrieve her and the child,” Kasasira explained.
He continued, “While in the car, the suspects killed Ainembabazi, placed her body in a sack filled with stones, and threw it into the Kanyehunde waters. They then killed the child, wrapped his body in clothes, tied a heavy stone to it, and threw him into the same waters. Both bodies were recovered on October 8, 2024.”
SP Kasasira also revealed that investigations uncovered a history of long-standing domestic violence between Namanya Innocent and Natukunda Create, which was the subject of an ongoing court case.
