Housemaid Arrested for Stealing Employer's Child in Alleged Human Sacrifice Plot

A housemaid, who had been the subject of a nearly month-long manhunt, has been arrested for kidnapping her employer's 8-year-old daughter with the intent to use the child for human sacrifice. The suspect, 20-year-old Babirye Sumaya, a barmaid by profession, has confessed to the crime during police questioning. She is currently facing charges of aggravated trafficking in children, according to Luke Owoyesigyire, the Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Spokesperson.

The case dates back to November 16, 2024, when a report was filed at Kasanje Police Station in Wakiso District about the abduction of Gorreti Nakiwala, an 8-year-old pupil at Delight Primary School. It was alleged that Sumaya deceived Nakiwala, telling her they were going to Kikaaya Mosque for prayers. Instead, she directed a bodaboda rider to transport them to Mpigi Town, and both remained missing for two weeks.

Investigations later revealed that Sumaya had been spotted in Ssembabule District with two children. When Sumaya realized she was being pursued, she fled and was eventually arrested in Mutungo-Kampala over the weekend. When apprehended, Sumaya was found with Nakiwala and another unidentified child. Thankfully, both were rescued through a joint operation by detectives from Entebbe Central Police Station and Jinja Road Police, and Goreti was safely reunited with her family.

In her confession, Sumaya disclosed that she had been stealing children for human sacrifice. Police are continuing their investigation to identify and apprehend her accomplices, as Sumaya is believed to have acted with others. "We managed to save this child, but investigations are ongoing to apprehend her other accomplices because she has not been doing these acts alone," Owoyesigyire said. Sumaya faces charges of Aggravated Trafficking in Children. Police have urged the public to remain cautious when hiring domestic workers, noting that traffickers have adapted their methods to pose as housemaid hiring agents. These individuals are exploiting vulnerable maids for illegal purposes.

Derrick Basalirwa, the deputy national coordinator for the prevention of trafficking in persons at the Ministry, emphasized the importance of conducting thorough background checks when hiring maids. "Housemaids are being obtained through mere phone calls, where a friend or relative helps to find one. Families fail to verify details such as the maid’s past employment or reasons for leaving previous jobs. Soon after, we hear that the maid has disappeared with a child. These are cases we're seeing," Basalirwa said. The Ministry also revealed that between July 2023 and now, 3,259 trafficking cases have been reported, involving 4,965 victims, with children being the most trafficked at 2,543 cases.

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