Pallisa, Uganda: The Territorial Police in Pallisa District have launched investigations into a suspected case of infanticide after an 18-year-old woman allegedly gave conflicting accounts about the disappearance of her one-month-old baby, with authorities yet to recover the child’s body.
The suspect, identified as Kokoi Mercy, is accused of providing inconsistent explanations regarding the whereabouts of her infant, prompting detectives to open a criminal investigation.
According to the Bukedi North Regional Police spokesperson, ASP Wilfred Kyempasa, the matter came to light on June 19, 2026, when the suspect’s mother, Ariao Josephine, returned home and discovered that her daughter no longer had the baby.
When questioned, Kokoi reportedly claimed she had handed the infant over to the child’s father, whose identity, police say, had never been disclosed to family members.
Police say the suspect later changed her account, alleging that she found the baby dead inside the house and, instead of informing authorities or relatives, disposed of the body in a pit latrine at Agule Central Nursery and Primary School.
The revelation prompted detectives, accompanied by Scene of Crime officers, to search the school’s latrine for the alleged remains.
However, the operation failed to recover the baby’s body.
The head teacher of Agule Central Nursery and Primary School, Woling Japeth, told DailyExpress that investigators conducted an extensive search using torches, a long wooden pole and later enlisted a local resident to inspect the pit after chemicals were applied, but nothing was found.
“They searched the pit using a long piece of wood and a torch before engaging a local person to inspect it further after applying chemicals, but nothing was found,” Woling said.
He added that the operation left part of the school’s latrine damaged after officers removed roofing sheets and broke sections of the structure to gain access.
According to Woling, the damaged facility has not yet been repaired, affecting its usability. He appealed to the responsible authorities to restore the latrine, arguing that the school should not bear the cost of damage resulting from the investigation.
“If the allegations that the body was dumped here turn out to be false, then those who directed investigators to the school should take responsibility. If the damage resulted from the police search, then the concerned authorities should also ensure the latrine is repaired,” he said.
The head teacher also questioned why the school had been identified as the alleged disposal site when investigators failed to recover any evidence. “Even today, when I contacted police, they told me they have not discovered anything,” he added.
Police have registered the matter as a case of suspected infanticide under CRB 277/2026.
Detectives have since recorded statements from the suspect, her mother and other witnesses as investigations continue.
ASP Kyempasa said efforts remain underway to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the infant’s disappearance and suspected death, including locating the child’s body.
Police have urged anyone with information that may assist the investigation to cooperate with detectives as inquiries continue.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
