Residents of Kyebando-Nansana in Wakiso District were left in shock and confusion when a makeshift grave with a note claiming the burial of a child was discovered.
The incident, now established to be a prank by three children in the vicinity, attracted a crowd and prompted the involvement of local leaders and police.
The alarm was first raised by neighbors who found a suspicious grave and a note stating that a child’s body had been buried at the site. The property owner, Martine Kibirango, was awakened by residents demanding answers about the alleged burial. Overwhelmed by the note’s ominous message, Kibirango quickly sought help from the Local Council (LC) and the police.
According to village chairman Richard Mwanje, the incident initially appeared to be linked to a disturbing trend of child neglect and infanticide in the area. Mwanje expressed concerns over individuals resorting to extreme measures to deal with unwanted children, condemning such acts as inhumane.
However, the mystery took an unexpected twist when police arrived and began investigating. A young man stepped forward, revealing that the “grave” was part of a prank orchestrated by a group of children. The children had buried a dead chicken and placed a fake note to frighten the community.
Police, led by OC Obima, traced the children involved and summoned them for questioning. The children confessed to the prank and led the authorities to the site, where they dug up the chickens in the presence of the gathered crowd.
Kibirango expressed relief but remained disturbed by the ordeal.
“If it weren’t for the immediate intervention of the authorities, the situation could have escalated. I’m thankful to the police and local leaders for their swift action,” he said.
His wife also shared her shock, saying the morning’s events had caused unnecessary panic in the neighborhood.
Local authorities have urged parents to monitor their children’s behavior closely and emphasized the need to foster a sense of responsibility among the youth. Meanwhile, police have warned against such pranks, highlighting the chaos and fear they can create in the community.
