WAKISO
A Kampala International University (KIU) student who went missing from her hostel in Kansanga has been found dead in Nabbingo, Wakiso District.
Patricia Kairu, a newly enrolled student at KIU, had been missing for about 10 days before her body was discovered. She was allegedly raped, killed and her body abandoned in an unfinished building.
According to the deceased friend, Makana Kennedy Ndyamuhaki, Kairu’s body had reportedly spent four days at Mulago Hospital before her relatives learnt of her death.
Ndyamuhaki said the family only became aware of the death after a photograph of Kairu was shared on TikTok.
“Her name was Kairu Patricia, a dear friend of mine and a newly enrolled student at KIU varsity,” Ndyamuhaki said.
He said Kairu’s disappearance and subsequent discovery in Nabbingo had left her friends struggling to understand what happened to her.
“She had been missing for 10 days, four of which her body had spent at Mulago. It was through TikTok that we finally learned that she had been killed after someone shared her photograph,” he said.
Ndyamuhaki appealed to senior police officers to ensure that the circumstances surrounding Kairu’s death are thoroughly investigated and that those responsible are brought to justice.
“How Patricia left her hostel in Kansanga and ended up in Nabbingo remains difficult to comprehend,” he said.
Kairu’s body was later transported to Buyende District, where she was buried on Thursday August 13.
“The circumstances surrounding her death have left us devastated. We could not even properly see her after her body was recovered from Mulago. By the time we got there, mortuary attendants had already buried her, forcing us to exhume her. Her face was unrecognisable,” Makana said.
The Universe confirmed Kairu’s death and sent condolences to the bereaved family.
“We mourn the untimely loss of our student Kaleta Patricia Kariru, a Year One student in our Higher Education Certificate in Humanities (Entrepreneurship and Divinity) program, April 2026 intake,” KIU mourned.
“Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and classmates during this difficult time. May her soul rest in eternal peace.”
Her death comes amid concern over attacks involving young women, including a recent incident in which a Senior Four candidate at Masaka Secondary School was reportedly sexually assaulted and strangled.
However, police had not by press time issued a detailed public statement on Kairu’s death or confirmed whether any suspects had been arrested.
