A 27-year-old man in Kakumiro District is behind bars after allegedly staging the death of his own child and using a banana sucker as a fake body in a coffin in an attempt to get Shs350,000 from his family. The suspect, identified as Nicholas Mutegeki, a resident of Kiyora Village in Bugambe Sub-county, Kikuube District, […]
A 27-year-old man in Kakumiro District is behind bars after allegedly staging the death of his own child and using a banana sucker as a fake body in a coffin in an attempt to get Shs350,000 from his family.
The suspect, identified as Nicholas Mutegeki, a resident of Kiyora Village in Bugambe Sub-county, Kikuube District, allegedly cooked up the scheme after his father refused to send him money for funeral expenses.
Police say Mutegeki called his father, Kato Kabaleega, a resident of Kyekaado Cell in Kisiita Town Council, Kakumiro District, on June 15, 2026, claiming that his child had died.
He allegedly asked for Shs350,000 to transport the body to Kakumiro for burial.
After his father declined to provide the money, police say Mutegeki wrapped a banana sucker in cloth, placed it inside a coffin and transported it to his father’s home, pretending it was the child’s body.
The trick was uncovered when mourners demanded to see the body before burial.
According to police, Mutegeki repeatedly refused to open the coffin, raising suspicion among the mourners.
The angry mourners eventually opened the coffin themselves , only to discover a banana sucker wrapped in cloth instead of a body.
Mutegeki allegedly fled immediately after the shocking discovery.
His sister, Irene Mutegeki, said the family and mourners were left in disbelief by the incident.
Albertine Regional Police spokesperson Julius Hakiza said police, with the help of residents, launched a manhunt and arrested Mutegeki on Sunday while he was hiding in a nearby bush.
He is currently detained at Kakumiro Central Police Station and has been charged with creating a public nuisance.
