Residents of Lower Nabuti Village in the Central Division of Mukono Municipality were left in shock on Tuesday after construction workers unearthed a badly decomposed human body dumped in a roadside drainage trench along Lweza Road.
The grim discovery was made by workers from the China Communication Construction Company (CCCC) who were clearing ditches and opening a drainage channel as part of ongoing road works in the area.
According to an eyewitness who works nearby, the driver of a grader machine first noticed something unusual when the blade of the equipment struck what appeared to be legs buried in the soil.
“The grader was clearing the ditch when the blade hit the legs. That’s when we raised an alarm and people came to see what was happening,” the resident recounted.
The body, which had been partially buried and covered with soil, showed advanced decomposition. Only the lower limbs were initially visible, clad in short trousers and black boer . Remarkably, there was no overpowering odour at the scene, likely because the remains had been concealed beneath the earth for some time.
Police officers from Wantoni Police Post swiftly responded to the scene, reinforced by a team from Mukono Police led by the office Operation ASP Dison Ngobi. The officers conducted a thorough search of the trench and surrounding area but did not recover any additional remains or immediate evidence.
Local residents offered differing theories about how the body ended up in the ditch. Some believe the deceased was killed elsewhere and the body deliberately dumped in the trench, while others suggested it may have been carried by floodwaters from upstream areas in Nabuti, a spot notorious for channeling debris and occasionally bodies during heavy rains.
The area is usually bustling with activity, featuring washing bay, small shops, a church, and a nearby stone quarry. Despite this constant human presence, residents expressed concern that no one had previously reported or investigated a persistent bad smell in the vicinity.
Mukono Municipality Councillor Augustine Romeo, who represents the area, expressed deep shock at the incident. “It is very unfortunate and disturbing,” he said. Romeo strongly condemned the growing habit of people dumping waste and other materials in the drainage channels, warning that such irresponsible behaviour not only creates environmental hazards but can also conceal serious crimes.
Area Chairperson Fred Magero said he received news of the discovery while returning from church service. He appealed for calm and urged anyone who has a missing relative to immediately report to Mukono Police Station. “We need to look out for each other, especially when people are moving around at night or in isolated places,” Magero emphasised. He confirmed that no one from his area had been reported missing recently.
Police have called upon the public to provide any information that could help identify the deceased. The remains were later transported to the mortuary at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala for further examination, including possible DNA sampling and determination of the cause of death.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing, with police pursuing leads to establish the identity of the deceased and the circumstances surrounding the death. Authorities have not yet ruled out foul play.
This incident has heightened concerns about safety and waste management in parts of Mukono Municipality, with residents calling for increased vigilance and better maintenance of drainage systems to prevent similar occurrences.
 who were clearing ditches and opening a drainage channel as part of ongoing road works in the area.){kind=link}