KIBOGA, UGANDA: Police in Kiboga District have opened a homicide investigation after the body of a 16-year-old girl was discovered in a coffee plantation several days after she returned home and told her family that she had begun living with a man.

The teenager, identified as Phionah Namukisa, was found dead in Kitete Village on Friday, September 4, after disappearing from her relatives’ home several days earlier. Investigators are now working to reconstruct her final movements and determine who may have been responsible for her death.

Namukisa had reportedly left her relatives’ home on August 28. Her disappearance was subsequently reported to local authorities as her family attempted to establish where she had gone.

On September 2, the teenager returned home and told her mother that she had met a man identified as Joram Sserugo and had started staying with him in the Kajjere area. The development reportedly caused concern among relatives, who wanted her to return home.

Her mother then arranged for a 13-year-old girl to accompany Namukisa back to Sserugo’s residence. However, when they arrived, another woman was reportedly present at the house.

The woman, identified as Resty Nantale, was reportedly described as Sserugo’s wife. Police say a disagreement subsequently developed between Namukisa and Nantale.

Investigators are examining claims that the two had a confrontation before Sserugo returned and separated them. He reportedly arranged for Namukisa to spend the night at a nearby neighbour’s home while he attempted to resolve the situation.

The teenager reportedly left the neighbour’s residence the following morning.

Her body was discovered later in a nearby coffee plantation. A local resident who had gone into the plantation to collect herbs reportedly came across the body and alerted his family, who then notified community leaders and police.

Police officers from Kibiga Sub-county were joined by investigators from Kiboga Central Police Station. A homicide team examined the location and documented evidence before the body was transported to Kiboga Hospital for a postmortem examination.

Investigators reportedly observed injuries on the body and are working to establish how they were caused and whether they were directly connected to the teenager’s death.

Sserugo has been arrested while police continue their investigation. Authorities are also trying to determine what happened between the time Namukisa left the neighbour’s house and when her body was discovered.

Police have cautioned against speculation while the investigation is underway, saying evidence and witness statements will be important in establishing the sequence of events.

The case has also prompted renewed concerns about the vulnerability of teenage girls who become involved in relationships with significantly older individuals. Authorities have urged parents and guardians to maintain communication with children and intervene carefully when they believe a young person’s safety may be at risk.

Police officials have appealed to families to guide children even during disagreements, warning that emotionally driven decisions can sometimes expose young people to dangerous situations.

Investigators are expected to continue interviewing witnesses, examining the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s disappearance and reviewing the evidence collected from the scene.

The motive behind the girl’s death has not been established, and authorities have not ruled out the involvement of additional individuals. The investigation remains active as police work to determine exactly what happened before Namukisa was found dead.