Boy, 16, tortured and buried alive for stealing phones

Mbarara, (UG):- The Territorial Police in Rwizi Region in conjunction with Mbarara Central Police Station are jointly investigating the circumstances under which a 16-year-old boy was tortured and buried alive in a gruesome incident registered in Mbarara City days ago.

Charles Amanya, 16, a resident of Kabujye Cell in Sheema District is said to have reportedly undergone the torture in Mbarara last week on May 28, 2024.

While addressing the media on Tuesday morning at Naguru Police headquarters, SCP Fred Enanga the police spokesperson said so far two people have been arrested in connection with the incident and are currently held at Mbarara CPS.

“Apollo Kamukama, aged 43, of Rubaare Sub-County, and a 17-year-old boy (names withheld) have been arrested in connection with the incident where they allegedly attacked Amanya accusing him of stealing their phones,” Enanga said.

“They tied him to a tree and started torturing him. At a certain point, they thought they had killed him so they dug a shallow grave where they dumped and buried him. Luckily, the victim managed to crawl out of the grave and spent two days in a nearby shack where he was discovered and taken to the Police and later to Bubaare Health Center for treatment,” he added.

Further investigations have established that the victim who hails from the Sheema district had been a casual laborer in Mbarara when the incident occurred.

According to Mr Enanga, police have preferred several charges against the suspects including; torture, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit a felony.

“Efforts are in place to trace for other accomplices who are still on the run to ensure they are charged to court as well,” he said.