Tragedy strikes in Busoga North as a case of theft turns Murder for a 14 year old boy.
Residents of Busoga North are reeling in shock after a Catholic priest allegedly assaulted and locked a 14-year-old boy in a store, leading to his death.
The 33-year-old priest surrendered himself to the police days after allegedly fleeing the scene where the boy, identified as Joseph Kirya, was found.
Father Silver Owori of Wesunire Catholic Parish and his driver, Robert Gabula, are currently being held at Buyende Police Station as investigations continue.
Busoga North Police spokesperson Michael Kasadha, while confirming the arrest, noted that they would continue probing the matter to get to the root of it and apprehend any other persons responsible.
“The Father voluntarily came to the regional police offices in Kamuli and was later handed over to Buyende Police to begin investigations. The investigations will determine when the duo will be produced in court, but there is no particular timeline,” Kasadha said in a report by Daily Monitor.
Police reported that they were yet to establish whether Joseph was a visitor at the parish, a student, or even known to the suspects.
According to preliminary reports, Father Silver claimed that UGX 5 million (approximately KSh 180,583) had been stolen from his room on 1 August.
He ordered a search for the boy, who was brought before him later that same evening.
The priest allegedly assaulted Joseph and locked him in the parish storage room overnight. Tragically, the teenager passed away.
Upon checking on Joseph the following day, 2 August, and finding his lifeless body in the store, Father Silver filed a police report.
He reported the stolen money and requested that police collect the suspect, but failed to disclose what had transpired with the boy.
When officers arrived at the parish, they went to the store and found the boy already dead.
Joseph’s body was moved to a nearby hospital, where a post-mortem examination was conducted before his family received him for burial.
By the time of publishing, authorities had yet to reveal the official cause of death or the full circumstances surrounding it.
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