Buyende police probe murder of traditional healer found buried in banana plantation

Police inspect the burial pit where Elizabeth Namukose’s body was found.

Police in Buyende District are investigating the suspected murder of Elizabeth Namukose, a 56-year-old traditional healer whose body was retrieved from a shallow pit in a banana plantation in Busisiro Zone, Namukunyu Parish, Bugaya Sub-county.

The discovery was made after local resident Tom Isejja, a nephew of the deceased, noticed dogs pulling a piece of cloth from a pit behind the family’s residence. Alerted by a foul smell and swarms of flies, Mr Isejja raised an alarm, prompting community members to search the area and unearth the body.

According to preliminary findings released by Busoga North Police spokesperson Samson Lubega, Namukose was allegedly killed on August 18, 2026, in a suspected revenge attack before her killer partially buried her remains in the plantation. The incident was formally reported at Bugaya Police Station the same day.

Mr Lubega stated that Ms Namukose had been cohabiting with 40-year-old Aggrey Lubale, with whom she operated traditional healing shrines in the parish. He noted that the couple had lived together as husband and wife across their time in Namusikizi and Busisiro zones. Mr Lubega added that no arrests have been made so far, but detectives are actively pursuing leads to track down and apprehend the suspect.

Family members point to ongoing domestic conflicts and financial disputes as potential drivers behind the crime. The deceased’s daughter, Ms Minina Nankwanga, revealed that the couple was plagued by domestic violence, adding that her mother had repeatedly asked Mr Lubale to move out, but he refused.

Ms Nankwanga recounted a previous violent episode where her stepfather allegedly attempted to strangle her mother with a piece of cloth under a pillow, fleeing only after Ms Nankwanga intervened. She further claimed the suspect once mixed poison into a 20kg bag of maize flour intended for the family of nine, only to return unexpectedly and warn them against eating it, stating he did not want his wife's family to die.

Providing further context on the couple's relationship, Mr Isejja attributed the fallout to disagreements over earnings from their healing practice. He explained that while Ms Namukose possessed the spiritual gift, Mr Lubale routinely demanded the bulk of the money collected from clients on grounds that he was the household breadwinner.

Local leaders have called for swift law enforcement action. The NRM Chairperson, Mr Mathias Kagomba, expressed deep sadness over the tragic incident, noting that while the full circumstances and motive remain under police investigation, the community expects justice to be served once the perpetrator is held accountable.

Following the discovery, police exhumed the body and transferred it to the Kamuli Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem examination, after which it will be handed over to the family for burial.