Cannibalism in Uganda: Suspect Arrested Over Alleged Killing of 38 People
Uganda has been gripped by disturbing reports of cannibalism and serial murders following the reported arrest of a man accused of killing as many as 38 people over 15 years.
The announcement has revived memories of brutal attacks across the Greater Masaka region and raised fresh questions about a series of killings that have haunted communities for more than a decade.
On October 26, 2026, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, announced that security forces had arrested a man identified as Moses Mujurizi.
In a post on X, Muhoozi stated that the suspect is accused of killing and eating 38 people between 2010 and 2025 in Masaka, Ibanda and Kazo.
The military chief described him as one of Uganda’s worst alleged serial killers and declared that he would face a public trial and execution.
However, publicly available evidence has not yet fully established these extraordinary claims.
The arrest marks a significant development in the investigation, but the number of alleged victims, the cannibalism accusations and the suspect’s connection to earlier murders remain matters requiring careful examination.
Cannibalism in Uganda: What Is Known About the Case?
The latest announcement comes amid renewed investigations into killings reported across Greater Masaka, particularly during 2012 and 2013. Several families were attacked in their homes, with victims reportedly hacked to death by assailants wielding machetes.
According to reporting by ChimpReports, the military chief did not provide a detailed breakdown of the alleged 38 victims or publish forensic findings establishing the cannibalism claims.
The distinction matters. The allegation that a suspect is responsible for numerous murders is separate from the claim that victims were eaten. Each requires evidence capable of withstanding scrutiny during criminal proceedings.
Investigators will need to establish the identities of the alleged victims, the circumstances of their deaths and whether the available evidence connects the suspect to individual cases. They must also determine whether the cannibalism allegations can be independently substantiated.
For now, the public announcement has brought renewed attention to a case whose full scope remains unclear.
The Greater Masaka Killings That Shocked Uganda
The arrest has revived memories of attacks that spread fear through communities in Masaka, Rakai, Kyotera and surrounding areas.
One of the most notorious incidents involved the killing of nine members of the family of Pentecostal pastor Steven Mugambe in Kanabulemu village, Kyebe Sub-county, in the area now known as Kyotera District.
Earlier media investigations reported that attackers allegedly gained entry by drilling through the walls of the victims’ home before hacking the occupants to death.
Other killings were reported in Kyannamukaaka Sub-county, Masaka District, in late 2012. In 2023, police also linked a suspected criminal network to the deaths of five people from two families in Kijonjo village, Buwunga Sub-county.
The attacks raised fears that the killings were connected and that perpetrators might be operating across different communities.
A detailed account published by the Daily Monitor revisits the earlier investigations, including allegations that suspects connected to the killings had repeatedly escaped custody or been released under disputed circumstances.
Although these reports provide important historical context, investigators must establish which incidents can be directly connected to the man arrested in the latest operation.
A Suspect Previously Linked to Multiple Murders
The identity of the recently arrested man is another important aspect of the investigation.
While General Muhoozi identified the suspect as Moses Mujurizi, earlier police and media reports referred to a man named Fred Mujulizi, also known as Kulaish Kamugisha. Those reports linked the individual to a series of killings in Greater Masaka and described previous arrests and alleged escapes.
The similarity between the names and the reported histories raises questions that investigators will need to clarify. Establishing the suspect’s identity, aliases and connections to earlier case files will be essential to determining whether the latest arrest resolves longstanding investigations.
On October 16, Uganda Radio Network reported that Fred Mujulizi, alias Kulaish Kamugisha, and a co-accused, Huzairuh Kyambadde, had appeared before a magistrate in Masaka facing murder and human trafficking charges arising from the death of a woman on September 28, 2026.
According to the report, prosecutors alleged that the woman had been lured with the promise of an intimate relationship before being killed in a suspected ritual murder. Police reportedly said exhibits recovered from the suspect’s residence could assist their investigation.
The two accused were remanded to Masaka Central Prison until November 5, 2026, while investigations continued.
Uganda Radio Network’s report on the reopening of old murder files states that police were reviewing previous cases and receiving complaints from families who suspected the accused of involvement in the deaths of their relatives.
These developments provide a documented basis for understanding the renewed investigation. They do not, however, independently establish responsibility for all 38 deaths cited by the military chief.
Why Investigators Are Revisiting Old Cases
One of the most significant consequences of the reported arrest is the possibility of bringing new evidence to bear on unresolved murders.
When killings occur across several districts over many years, investigators must establish whether similarities in the methods used, locations, timing and circumstances indicate a connection. They must also distinguish between cases that share characteristics and those for which evidence directly implicates a particular suspect.
Police have reportedly begun reviewing older files and receiving information from people who believe their relatives may have been victims. Such accounts could help investigators identify witnesses, reconstruct timelines and locate evidence that was previously overlooked or unavailable.
The process may also reveal whether other people were involved. Earlier reporting suggested that some of the attacks could have involved accomplices, although the extent of any alleged criminal network remains to be established.
The challenge is to turn years of allegations and public suspicion into individual cases supported by credible evidence.
For families who have waited years for answers, the investigation offers an opportunity to learn what happened to their relatives. But that opportunity will only translate into justice if investigators establish the facts and prosecutors present evidence that meets the required legal standards.
The Execution Question: Justice Must Follow the Law
General Muhoozi’s announcement that the suspect would be tried publicly and “definitely” executed has attracted attention because it appears to anticipate the outcome of proceedings that have not yet established guilt.
The public anger surrounding allegations of multiple murders is understandable. The killing of innocent people, particularly entire families, demands a serious response from the state. Nevertheless, an arrest is not a conviction, and the determination of guilt and sentence must be made through the judicial process.
A fair trial is not an obstacle to justice. It is the mechanism through which the state establishes responsibility, tests evidence and distinguishes proven offences from allegations.
If the suspect is convicted of murder, the appropriate sentence must be determined under Ugandan law and through the applicable judicial process. A public statement by a military official cannot substitute for that process or predetermine its outcome.
The same principle protects victims and their families. A prosecution built on reliable evidence is more likely to establish what happened, identify those responsible and withstand legal challenge than one driven primarily by public outrage.
What Happens Next?
The reported arrest of Mujurizi has reopened one of Uganda’s most disturbing criminal investigations. Authorities now face the task of determining whether the suspect can be linked to the historical killings, establishing the number and identities of the alleged victims, and verifying the claims of cannibalism.
Investigators must also clarify the relationship between the name the military chief announced and the identity used in earlier police reports. Any additional charges will depend on the evidence gathered and the decisions made by prosecutors.
For communities affected by the Greater Masaka killings, the central concern is not simply the dramatic nature of the allegations. It is whether the investigation will finally provide credible answers about relatives who were killed, identify those responsible and prevent similar crimes.
If investigators establish the alleged links between the suspect and multiple murders, the case could become one of Uganda’s most significant serial-murder prosecutions. Until then, the reported figure of 38 victims and the cannibalism claims must remain allegations rather than facts.
Uganda’s next challenge is to ensure that the reported breakthrough leads not merely to public declarations, but to answers that can be established in court.
About the Writer
Prof. Tinka C. Muhwezi is a media strategist, geopolitical commentator and founder of Frontier Tech Network (FTN). With over 25 years of experience spanning science journalism, broadcasting, storytelling, video production and digital media strategy, he brings a multidisciplinary perspective to news and public affairs.
His work examines politics, governance, international relations, technology and the forces shaping societies. Through FTN, he combines research, journalism and analysis to explore significant events beyond the headlines, connecting local developments to wider regional and global trends.
Follow more reporting and analysis at FTNTV.com.
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