Missing Naalya student found dead in Mukono in suspected murder

The 15-year-old student, Merisa Aneza, disappeared on November 4 after leaving her mother’s home in Kikoni, Kampala, to return to school.

Kyampisi, Uganda: A week-long search for a Senior Two student of Naalya Secondary School in Lugazi, Buikwe District, has ended tragically after her body was discovered in a swamp in Mukono District under circumstances now being treated as suspected murder.

The 15-year-old student, identified as Melisa Aneza, disappeared on November 4 after leaving her mother’s home in Makerere Kikoni, Kampala, to return to school. But her mother, Sarah Kamuganga, reported her missing at Kikoni B Police Station on November 6, sparking a frantic search across Kampala and Mukono.

According to Ms Kamuganga, the student had been serving a one-week suspension and had just completed her days at home. The father, Martin Anogyerire, had been scheduled to escort her back to school on November 4, but she never arrived at his residence.

CCTV footage retrieved from a neighbour in Kikoni showed the teenager walking alone, but her trail went cold until November 10, when disturbing images circulated on social media showing a decomposing body dumped in Musaale Swamp, Namulaba Village, Kyampisi Sub-county.

By the time the family tracked the images, the body had already been buried by mortuary staff at Kayunga Hospital due to decomposition. When Ms Kamuganga visited Nagalama Police Station days later, she identified photos of the body as her daughter’s, describing the moment as “heartbreaking.”

The victim was reportedly found dressed in a navy-blue skirt labelled Nanyonga VII, prompting police to contact schools in surrounding areas for leads.

Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Spokesperson Mr Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed that two separate case files, the missing person’s report and the body recovered in Kyampisi, are now being handled jointly at the Kampala Metropolitan East Regional Headquarters.

He said the body has not yet been officially handed over to the parents because DNA analysis is required to scientifically establish identity.

“Police have applied for a court order to guide the exhumation. Samples will be extracted for DNA testing to determine whether the remains belong to the missing child, Aneza Merisa,” Owoyesigyire said.

He appealed to the public to remain calm, saying no conclusive evidence yet links the missing student to the recovered body. “…investigations have not yet established any link between the missing juvenile and the body recovered in Nagalama.