Overview:
The deceased are Deogratius Kizito, also known as Ayella, son of George Lawrence Obalo, and Gabriel Odong, son of Sunday Komakech. The two children, who were neighbours and age mates, were residents of Ongao Village, Gira-Gira Parish in Guru-Guru Sub-county.
Police in the Aswa West Region have launched investigations into the suspected murder of two four-year-old boys who had been reported missing in Guru-Guru Sub-county, Amuru District.
The deceased are Deogratius Kizito, also known as Ayella, son of George Lawrence Obalo, and Gabriel Odong, son of Sunday Komakech. The two children, who were neighbours and age mates, were residents of Ongao Village, Gira-Gira Parish in Guru-Guru Sub-county.
According to an incident report registered at Guru-Guru Amuru Central Police Station under CRB 72/2026, the children went missing on February 6 at around 10:30 am.
It is alleged that on the day of their disappearance, a cow and its calf belonging to Obalo strayed from home. Unbeknownst to their parents, the two boys, one carrying a rope and the other a stick, reportedly followed the animals in an attempt to bring them back.
Police say the children failed to recover the livestock and are believed to have continued moving until they reached Aguny Village in Amora Parish, approximately 10 kilometres from their home, where they disappeared. A case of disappearance was registered at Guru-Guru Sub-county Police Station on February 7, prompting a search by community members.
ASP David Ongom Mudong, the Aswa West Regional Police Public Relations Officer, said on Wednesday that the bodies of the children were discovered at about 6:30 pm in a burnt bush in Aguny Village on Pukure clan land. Mudong said the bodies were found by children who had gone to the area to look for alligator pepper, a local fruit commonly harvested during the dry season.
He said the bodies were conveyed to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital mortuary for post-mortem examination to establish the probable cause of death. Mudong added that investigations into the suspected murder are ongoing and urged members of the public to remain calm and volunteer any information that could help establish the circumstances surrounding the children’s deaths.
Patrick Komakech Kibwota, the Guru-Guru Sub-county Chairperson, told Uganda Radio Network on Thursday that one of the bodies was discovered near an anthill at about 6:30 pm, while the second body was found later in the evening, a short distance away.
Kibwota said the children had earlier been seen by several residents as they attempted to recover the stray animals, with some locals assuming they were heading to a nearby stream to bathe.
“These children were playing, and the reports we received indicate they decided to leave home to look for their father’s animals. They used the road from their village centre towards the sub-county before their disappearance,” Kibwota said.
He noted that the community mounted a joint search two days after the children went missing, but their efforts were unsuccessful until the bodies were discovered on Wednesday evening.
According to Kibwota, a post-mortem conducted at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital indicates that the children sustained injuries before the fire incident.
“The results suggest the children may have been beaten by unknown individuals before the bush was set on fire,” he said.
Police from the Aswa West Region, led by Detective Assistant Superintendent of Police Isiko J. Balisanyuka, visited and documented the scene of the crime on Wednesday evening.
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