The police in Kagera region are holding three people in connection with the disappearance of a two-year-old albino girl, Asimwe Novath, who was abducted on May 30, 2024, at the Mbale Hamlet ,Bulamula Vilage in Muleba district.
According to the mother of the child, Judith Richard the people who abducted Asimwe disguised themselves as people who needed urgent care after a snake bite. When she opened her door to assist, one of the two men choked her and they quickly picked up the child.
Speaking to The Chanzo, the acting regional police commander, Yusuph Daniel, said that the police are doing everything within their power to ensure the child is found.
“Our officers are closely following up on this matter. We call upon good citizens to promptly provide us with information whenever they hear anything,” said Daniel.
The father of the child is also one of the three people who were arrested as police continue with the investigation.
The Muleba District Commissioner in Kagera region, Dr. Abel Nyamahanga, has directed village officials to conduct a census aimed at identifying households with albino individuals in the district, to facilitate their identification and enhance their security and protection.
Speaking, on Monday, June 3, 2024, during his visit to the family, Dr. Nyamahanga said he does not expect to hear of any more incidents of albino individuals being abducted or disappearing in the district.
“The pain of giving birth to an albino child is no different from that of giving birth to any other child. They are all children, so mothers should recognize that there is no difference. As the government, we declare that we will not rest until the child is found, at any cost,” said Dr. Nyamahanga.
The attacks against people with albinism in Tanzania are associated with witchcraft beliefs. While since 2016 there have been no incidents of killing Albinos, several reports have surfaced of serious harm to albinos, in most cases attackers hack parts of their bodies.
In April 2024, The United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities accused Tanzania on Wednesday of failure to condemn and investigate attacks against people with albinism, which it fears may constitute “serious violations” of the country’s obligation to protect people with disabilities.
The committee expressed “regret” for Tanzania’s unwillingness to follow up on three petitions filed to the committee concerning the mutilation of people with albinism and the lack of accountability for such abuses.
