Mbale lodge murder: Chilling revelations as suspect in S2 student’s defilement, strangulation arrested

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Police in Busoga East say they have apprehended a suspect accused of defiling and strangling a 15-year-old girl at a lodge in Mbale.

The arrest of Fahad Kiranda, aka Shuraim Fahad, on December 13, 2025, in Budebela village, Mayuge district, concludes a month-long investigation into the brutal killing of Sumaya Bint Edrisa, a Senior Two student at Nakaloke Secondary School in eastern Uganda.

Sources told New Vision Online that Crime Intelligence officers, led by Ismael Ssennono, tracked Kiranda to Mayuge after he allegedly murdered Sumaya on March 23, 2025, at about 9:00pm at Grace Guest House in Nkoma town, Mbale.

Receptionist Peter Nabende recounted how Kiranda rented Room 11 after initially rejecting smaller rooms, only to later call him using the victim’s phone to alert him of the body.

“I first took him to Room 14, but he said it was too small. We moved to Room 10, but he changed his mind and chose Room 11,” Nabende told investigators.

“Minutes later, a caller used the victim’s number to tell me, ‘Go check your things in Room 11.’ When I entered, I found her naked and lifeless on the bed.” Nabende immediately notified the lodge manager, who alerted the Police via Case Reference Number (CRB) 029/2025.

The alleged confession

During interrogation, Kiranda allegedly confessed to the murder and shockingly claimed to have killed over 40 girls, taking their left index fingers and blood to a witchdoctor in Nakalama, Iganga district, in exchange for Ugandan shillings 5 million.

This admission aligns with his prior arrest in late June 2025 for human trafficking with a 16-year-old victim, charged under CRB 560/2025 at Mayuge Police Station. He was briefly remanded but released on bail on October 16, 2025.

Police sources confirmed ongoing investigations into his other alleged crimes. 

“This arrest, despite the crime occurring outside our immediate jurisdiction, shows strong inter-district co-ordination and a commitment to justice,” a local resident stated, praising the efforts of Iganga’s Criminal Investigations Department. 

“It sends a clear message: Criminals cannot hide forever. Justice will find them.”