Fear, confusion as Uganda ‘serial killer’ murders pile up

– Theories but no evidence –

National police spokesman Asan Kasingye dismisses widespread fears of a serial killer, instead blaming “an organised criminal gang with strong links to ritual murders.” He also said “domestic violence” was a factor.

“We don’t have one serial killer on the loose, but we have a group of people,” he told a recent press conference.

Police chief Kale Kayihura has insisted that “we are on top of the situation” but the words are little comfort to fearful women and victims’ relatives.

Annet Nakachwa’s big sister, Josephine, was murdered in July in Nansana. The 17-year-old said the fear has not shifted despite the arrests.

“Every time we go to work, on return you expect the worst to happen,” she said.

As the bodies pile up so does the confusion surrounding the multiple cases and their possible motives. In parliament Interior Minister Jeje Odongo, a former general, blamed the “Illuminati”, a sinister secret society that is a favourite of conspiracy theorists the world over.

Odongo then contradicted police claiming to know that “two businessmen” — named in the local press — had hired a convicted serial killer to carry out ritual murders to bring them prosperity. He told AFP that the man had been arrested and confessed to killing nine women “whom he strangled and collected their blood.”

However, like the police, Odongo provided no evidence to support his story leaving Ugandan women none the wiser and still afraid.

Statement by Uganda Minister of Internal Affairs on Murders of Women – September 2017 by The Independent Magazine on Scribd