Socialite Brian Kirumira, popularly known as Bryan White, is facing one of the most disturbing criminal cases to hit Uganda in recent years, following allegations linking him to human sacrifice and the death of a young woman.
The case has drawn attention across East Africa, including in Kenya, where similar ritual-related crimes have previously sparked public outrage.
Kirumira, once known for flashy charity handouts and a flamboyant lifestyle, was arrested and charged in Kampala after the death of 25-year-old Caroline Nalubwama, who reportedly suffered severe burns at his residence in Makindye.
Prosecutors allege the circumstances surrounding her death point to ritual sacrifice, a charge that has horrified the public.
According to court documents, investigators recovered suspected ritual paraphernalia, illegal drugs, and other exhibits from the socialite’s home.
The state claims Nalubwama may have been subjected to ritual practices before sustaining fatal injuries, raising serious concerns about underground human sacrifice networks that still persist in parts of the region.
Kirumira has denied the allegations, insisting the victim was a friend and that the incident was accidental.
Through his lawyers, he has dismissed claims of ritual sacrifice as malicious and exaggerated.
"Caroline was my good friend, and I was only helping her at my home. I can never kill someone’s daughter. She died as a result of fire injuries — not what people are saying,” Brian White explained during a recent interview.
However, the prosecution maintains that evidence gathered so far justifies charges including manslaughter, conspiracy, narcotics possession, and human sacrifice.
The case has revived memories of past ritual killing scandals in East Africa, where vulnerable young people are often targeted in the belief that human body parts can bring wealth, power, or protection.
In Kenya, human rights groups have repeatedly warned that such practices, though secretive, remain a regional threat.
Kirumira has been remanded at Luzira Prison as investigations continue. The court is expected to determine whether the evidence supports a full trial.