Police in Butebo District have arrested an herbalist in connection with the alleged defilement of an 11-year-old girl who was reportedly left at his home for about two months for treatment.

The suspect, identified as Gorete Siraji, a resident of Kabuyai Village in Petete Town Council, was arrested following a report filed by Butebo District Probation Officer Peter Ojaala, 59, on November 5, 2026.

Police said the case was registered at 3:44pm under CRB 144/2026.

According to police, the alleged abuse dates back to June 2026, when the girl, whose identity is being withheld because she is a minor, reportedly experienced episodes in which she was attacked by what her family believed were ghosts.

Her mother, whose name has also been withheld, reportedly took her to the suspect in Petete Town Council for treatment.

ASP Wilfred Kyempasa, the Bukedi North regional police spokesperson, said the mother left the girl at the herbalist’s home, where she stayed for about two months because she could not raise the Shs50,000 reportedly demanded for treatment.

“During that period, the suspect allegedly defiled the girl under the pretext of administering herbal treatment. The alleged abuse reportedly occurred in nearby bushes whenever the suspect and the girl went to collect medicinal herbs,” Mr Kyempasa said.

He said the suspect allegedly warned the girl against disclosing how he administered the herbs, claiming that the treatment would not work if she told anyone.

Mr Kyempasa said the suspect had been arrested as investigations continued.

Detectives have visited and documented the alleged crime scene, recorded a statement from the victim and issued her with a PF3A medical examination form, which was subsequently retrieved, he added.

Defilement cases

The 2025 Annual Police Crime Report indicates that 10,492 defilement cases were reported in Uganda in 2025, down from 12,312 in 2024, representing a 14.8 per cent decline.

Of the cases reported in 2025, 7,019 were classified as simple defilement while 3,473 were aggravated defilement.

Police took 4,886 cases to court, resulting in 713 convictions, 27 acquittals and 355 dismissals. Another 3,791 cases remained pending in court, while 1,932 were not proceeded with and 3,674 were still under inquiry.

The report further indicates that 4,999 suspects were arrested and charged in connection with defilement cases. Of these, 740 were convicted, 27 acquitted, while 3,900 were undergoing trial. The report also records 332 discharges.

The suspect in the Butebo case remains under investigation, and the allegations have not been determined by court.