Disability rights organizations in Uganda have raised alarm over what they describe as dangerous police negligence in handling cases involving persons with albinism, warning that failure to act could lead to another preventable death.
The National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU) and Albinism Umbrella are demanding immediate intervention from government and security agencies following an alleged attempted ritual attack against Sylvia Nakiyemba, a 50-year-old woman with albinism from Nakatogo Village in Kyotera District.
Addressing journalists in Kampala ahead of International Albinism Awareness Day commemorations scheduled for June 13, the organizations accused police officers in Kyotera of refusing to register and investigate Nakiyemba’s complaint despite witness testimony, alleged confessions from suspects, and an existing history of violence against her family.
According to Albinism Umbrella Executive Director Olive Namutebi, the incident occurred on March 4, 2026, when suspected attackers reportedly raided a neighboring home in Nakatogo Village. Community members later apprehended the suspects, who allegedly confessed that they intended to target Nakiyemba.
Namutebi said the suspects reportedly claimed they had been sent by Luwooza Gonzaga, Nakiyemba’s brother and also the brother of the late Margaret Nakabubi, another woman with albinism who was brutally murdered in March 2023.
“On March 4th, Sylvia woke up to news that her immediate neighbours had been attacked. When the suspects were tracked, they revealed that they had intended to come to her home,” Namutebi said during the press briefing.
She described the incident as part of a wider pattern of targeted violence against persons with albinism, fueled by harmful cultural beliefs and ritual practices.
Margaret Nakabubi’s murder remains one of the most disturbing unresolved cases highlighted by the organizations. According to Namutebi, Nakabubi’s body was discovered mutilated, with her arm, breast, and private parts removed before the body was burned.
Despite the brutality of the killing and the case being reported to police in 2023, no arrests or prosecutions have been made.
“The case remains unresolved to this day, with no arrests and no prosecution that has taken place,” Namutebi said.
The organizations expressed shock that despite the alleged confession by the suspects in the recent incident involving Nakiyemba, police at Nakatogo Police Station reportedly refused to register the case, dismissing it as a “small family matter.”
Nakiyemba later sought assistance from Albinism Umbrella, which advised her to pursue an official police reference. However, according to the organization, this request was denied.
The matter was subsequently reported to the Kyotera District Police Commander on March 16, 2026. Namutebi alleged that the district police leadership responded by stating that courts only handle cases involving people with firsthand information or those who directly witnessed the incident.
“This is a legally incorrect statement that demonstrates either profound ignorance of criminal law or deliberate obstruction of justice,” Namutebi said.
She added that the main suspect, Gonzaga Luwooza, remains at large, with no known arrest warrant or active investigation publicly communicated by authorities.
The case has sparked renewed concern among disability rights activists and human rights organizations about the safety of persons with albinism in Uganda and across Africa.
Just days before the Kampala press conference, a 45-year-old man with albinism identified as Chipiliro Laston was reportedly murdered in Lilongwe, Malawi, allegedly by a relative. Activists say such incidents highlight the continued dangers faced by persons with albinism due to myths linking their body parts to wealth and prosperity.
NUDIPU Chief Executive Director Esther Kyozira said persons with albinism continue to face stigma, discrimination, and deadly attacks rooted in harmful cultural beliefs.
“There is a belief that anything good from a person with albinism is riches. People who want to grow their money bag want to get either their hair or something regarding their body, and as a result, we are losing lives,” Kyozira said.
She noted that despite existing legal protections, attacks against persons with albinism persist in many communities.
Uganda’s Criminal Investigations Directorate annual crime report for 2025 recorded 61 ritual sacrifice-related murders in a single year. According to Albinism Umbrella, several cases involving persons with albinism remain unresolved or underreported, including a case in Mayuge currently before court, the abduction and survival of Abdul in Salaama, Kampala, and the 2015 murder of Elizabeth Kwagala.
Kyozira warned that the continued violence has created fear among persons with albinism, including children who fear walking to school and adults who fear traveling to work.
“The earlier we intervene and call government to action, the better,” she said. “People are living in fear simply because of the color of their skin.”
The organizations also cited several national and international legal obligations they believe are being violated through the reported police inaction.
They referenced Article 21 of Uganda’s Constitution, which guarantees equality and freedom from discrimination, as well as provisions within the Persons with Disabilities Act, the Penal Code Act, and the Police Act, which require law enforcement officers to register and investigate criminal complaints.
The organizations further referenced international instruments including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which protect the right to life, dignity, and freedom from violence.
As part of their demands, NUDIPU and Albinism Umbrella called on the Inspector General of Police to immediately direct Nakatogo Police Station to register Nakiyemba’s complaint and launch a full criminal investigation.
They also demanded the arrest and investigation of Gonzaga Luwooza over allegations related to conspiracy to commit murder and called for the reopening of investigations into Margaret Nakabubi’s 2023 murder.
The organizations further requested investigations into officers at Nakatogo Police Station and Kyotera District Police leadership over alleged negligence and obstruction of justice.
In addition, they urged the Uganda Human Rights Commission to conduct an independent inquiry into the handling of both the Nakiyemba and Nakabubi cases and issue guidance on law enforcement obligations under the Persons with Disabilities Act.
The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development was also called upon to facilitate immediate relocation, psychosocial support, legal aid, and livelihood assistance for Nakiyemba to ensure her safety.
The organizations are additionally pushing government and development partners to renew Uganda’s National Action Plan on Persons with Albinism, which expired last year, and align it with the African Union plan of action running until 2031.
Namutebi stressed that what is happening in Kyotera should not be dismissed as a domestic dispute.
“This is not a family feud. It is a targeted campaign of violence against persons with albinism, enabled by police officers who have chosen to ignore their duty of care,” she said.
“When a police station refuses to register an attempted murder case because it involves a person with albinism, it sends one clear message — that our lives do not matter.”
She said the organizations would continue advocating for justice and accountability until action is taken.
“Sylvia Nakiyemba deserves protection. Margaret Nakabubi deserves justice. We do not want to wait for another funeral,” Namutebi said.
By press time, police had not publicly responded to the allegations raised by NUDIPU and Albinism Umbrella.
