Kampala Metropolitan Police have opened two serious investigations after a young girl was reported missing and an unidentified female body was later discovered in a swamp in Kyampisi, Mukono. The developments have caused deep concern among families and communities, prompting police to move swiftly in search of answers.
Authorities say the first report came on November 6 at Wandegeya Police Station, where a woman identified as Kamuganga Sarah alerted officers that her daughter, Aneza Merisa, had disappeared without a trace. Since then, detectives from Kampala Metropolitan East and North have been following different leads to determine what happened to the young girl.
While that search was underway, police at Nagalama Police Station received another troubling report on November 10. Residents of Namulaba Village found a decomposing female body in Musaale Swamp. According to police, the body was dressed in a navy-blue skirt with the name Nanyonga VII written on it, hinting that the victim was likely a school-going girl. Investigators are now reaching out to nearby schools to find out if any student has recently gone missing.
However, the state of the body made proper identification impossible. Mortuary workers in Kayunga, following standard procedure, buried the remains in a nearby cemetery due to advanced decomposition.
When word of the discovery circulated, the parents of the missing girl feared the body might be their daughter’s. But police have clarified that this cannot be confirmed because the family has not viewed the remains, and no scientific examination has yet been carried out.
To clear the uncertainty, investigators have requested a court order to exhume the buried body. Experts will then collect samples for DNA testing to determine whether the remains match those of Aneza Merisa. Police have urged the public to remain patient and avoid jumping to conclusions until scientific results are available.
Authorities are also using this moment to draw attention to the rising number of crimes involving children. According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report, more than 1,140 missing child cases were recorded in 2024, with over 300 children falling victim to homicide. Kampala’s fast-paced environment, coupled with limited supervision in some communities, continues to increase the risk of disappearances.
As detectives continue their search for answers in both cases, police have called for calm, cooperation and caution against spreading unverified information.