Seventeen human skulls, discovered buried in metal boxes at a suspected shrine, were unearthed in Kabanga village, near Mpigi town in central Uganda, on Monday. The macabre find was made by children collecting firewood approximately 40 kilometers west of Kampala.

According to regional police spokesman Majid Karim, local residents had reported the presence of metallic boxes containing skulls at the shrine site. “We swiftly moved in and dug up the place,” Karim told AFP. “So far, we have recovered 17 human skulls.”

The remains are currently being examined to determine their age, sex, and burial date. Karim urged the public to remain calm, as the discovery has left some residents in shock. Police are conducting further excavations to ensure no additional remains are buried at the site.

An investigation is underway to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the skulls’ presence and identify those responsible. The suspected owner of the site is currently on the run, linked to a separate case involving the murder of prominent Baganda leader Daniel Bbosa in February.

Mpigi district, while densely populated, retains a semi-rural character with agriculture as the primary economic activity, including the cultivation of coffee and bananas.