ZAMBIA EXPLAINS
Uganda Arrests Suspect Accused of Killing and Eating 38 People Over 15 Years
Article by Rodgers Mangwela | KASONDE24
Imagine living in fear that the people responsible for the deaths of your relatives could still be walking freely among you. Now imagine discovering that a suspect linked to years of alleged killings has finally been arrested, only for investigators to face the enormous task of establishing the truth behind dozens of suspected deaths.
That is the disturbing situation attracting attention across Africa, following the reported arrest of a Ugandan man accused of killing and eating 38 people over a 15-year period.
The suspect, identified as Mujurizi Moses, is accused of committing the alleged crimes between 2010 and 2025 in Masaka, Ibanda and Kazo districts. Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, announced the arrest on 26 October 2026, describing the suspect as one of the country's most notorious alleged serial killers.
However, beneath the shocking allegations lies a more complicated story involving unresolved murders, questions about previous arrests and the fundamental responsibility of investigators to establish the facts before a court reaches a verdict.
What Did Uganda's Army Chief Say?
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba announced the arrest in a statement shared on social media, claiming that the suspect was responsible for killing and consuming the remains of 38 people over 15 years.
He also declared that the suspect would face a public trial and would be executed.
The statement immediately attracted attention because of the extraordinary nature of the allegations and the number of people reportedly affected.
Yet, while the announcement confirms that the country's senior military official has made these accusations publicly, it does not independently establish that the suspect committed all the alleged crimes.
According to reporting by Uganda's Daily Monitor, earlier investigations had linked a suspect with a similar name to a series of brutal killings in the Greater Masaka region. Nevertheless, questions remain about the full extent of the alleged crimes and the evidence connecting the man recently identified by the army chief to each of the 38 deaths.
For the families who have lost loved ones, the priority is not simply a dramatic announcement. It is obtaining reliable answers about what happened, who was responsible and whether those responsible can be brought before a court.
Allegations of Attacks on Entire Families
Some of the allegations are particularly disturbing because the suspected victims reportedly included entire families.
According to reports citing local investigators, attackers allegedly broke into homes, sometimes by making openings through walls, before using machetes to kill their victims.
Earlier reporting on suspected killings in the Greater Masaka region described attacks that left multiple members of families dead. One reported incident involved nine members of a community associated with Pentecostal pastor Steven Mugambe in Kyebe, in what was then Rakai District. Other attacks were also reported in the wider region.
These accounts paint a frightening picture of communities struggling to understand repeated acts of violence.
However, an important distinction must be made: reports of earlier killings do not, by themselves, prove that the newly identified suspect was responsible for every incident. Investigators must establish which cases are connected, identify the victims and present evidence capable of withstanding scrutiny in court.
The allegations of cannibalism also require specific evidence. They should not be treated as established facts simply because they have appeared in public statements or news reports.
Why Previous Arrests Are Raising Questions
Perhaps one of the most troubling aspects of the story is the history of earlier arrests and alleged escapes associated with a suspect identified in previous reporting as Mujulizi.
Uganda's Daily Monitor has reported that a suspect linked to historical killings was arrested on several occasions but subsequently escaped or was released under disputed circumstances.
One account describes an alleged escape from police custody, followed by further attempts to locate and arrest the suspect. Other reported incidents raised questions about how a person suspected of serious crimes could repeatedly evade detention.
If investigators establish that suspects were improperly released or allowed to escape, those circumstances would deserve serious scrutiny.
Police custody exists to protect the public, preserve evidence and ensure that suspects appear before the courts. When detention procedures fail, investigations can be compromised, victims' families may be left without answers, and public confidence in law enforcement can suffer.
Nevertheless, the historical reports should be interpreted carefully. The relationship between the person identified in the latest announcement and individuals named in earlier investigations has not been conclusively established in all available reporting.
That distinction matters because accurate journalism must separate documented events from assumptions about identity and criminal responsibility.
What This Means for Justice in Africa
The case raises questions that extend beyond Uganda's borders.
Across Africa, communities expect law enforcement agencies to investigate serious crimes thoroughly, protect witnesses, preserve evidence and ensure that suspects are brought before independent courts.
For Zambia, including communities in Kabwe and Katondo, the story offers an opportunity to reflect on the importance of public safety, reliable investigations and accountability within the justice system.
When a serious crime is reported, the public naturally wants answers. When several people are suspected to have died under violent circumstances, that demand becomes even more urgent.
However, public outrage must not replace evidence. A suspect's arrest is an important development in an investigation, but it is not the same as a conviction.
Investigators need to establish the circumstances of each suspected death, examine forensic evidence where available, interview witnesses and determine whether the cases can be reliably connected to the accused person.
They must also distinguish between verified evidence and claims that remain unproven.
This is particularly important in cases that attract international attention, where shocking allegations can spread rapidly through social media before all the relevant facts become available.
Can the Suspect Be Executed Before Trial?
General Kainerugaba's declaration that the suspect would be executed has also drawn attention to a fundamental principle of criminal justice.
An accusation, even one involving an exceptionally serious crime, is not a judicial finding of guilt.
The suspect must be afforded the applicable legal protections, and any punishment must follow the lawful judicial process.
A public official's statement cannot substitute for a court's examination of evidence. Nor should the severity of an allegation be used to justify bypassing established legal procedures.
The public deserves justice, but justice requires more than punishment. It requires a credible process that identifies the responsible person, establishes the facts and protects the rights recognised under the law.
A fair trial also matters to victims' families. A properly established case can provide a stronger foundation for accountability than a public declaration that leaves important questions unanswered.
As the investigation develops, further information about the charges, evidence and identities of the alleged victims will be essential to understanding the full scope of the case.
The Questions Investigators Must Answer
Several important questions remain.
Has the suspect been formally charged in connection with all 38 alleged deaths? What evidence supports the claim that the victims were killed and their remains consumed? Are the cases across Masaka, Ibanda and Kazo demonstrably connected? And can investigators establish whether the suspect is the same individual implicated in earlier reports of suspected serial killings?
These questions cannot be answered conclusively through social media statements alone.
Authorities will need to provide reliable information as the legal process progresses. Until then, the alleged number of victims and the suspect's responsibility for the reported crimes must be treated as claims awaiting proof.
For communities that have endured years of uncertainty, credible answers are essential. Every victim deserves to be accounted for, and every family deserves the opportunity to learn the truth.
Conclusion: Beyond the Shock of the Headlines
The reported arrest of Mujurizi Moses has brought renewed attention to some deeply disturbing allegations in Uganda. If the claims are substantiated, the case would represent a devastating series of crimes with profound consequences for the affected families and communities.
But the story is not only about the shocking number attached to the allegations. It is also about the importance of effective investigations, accountable law enforcement and a justice system capable of establishing the truth.
For readers in Zambia and elsewhere in Africa, the central lesson is clear: public safety depends not only on arresting suspects but also on ensuring that serious allegations are investigated thoroughly and handled lawfully.
The world is watching Uganda for answers. The families of the alleged victims deserve those answers to be established through evidence, not speculation.
Article by Rodgers Mangwela | KASONDE24
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Published by KASONDE24
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