Written By | Staff Writer
Assualted: Katamba Daniel, lying down in pain alledges assault on orders of Pastor Frank Ndugwa
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WAKISO, Uganda
At 15, Katamba Daniel should be thinking about school, friends and his future. Instead, he is at home, severely ill and unable to move independently, while his mother struggles to raise Shs2.5 million for surgery that could determine whether he gets a chance to recover.
But as Daniel's mother, Shamim, fights to keep her son alive, her search for justice has taken an increasingly disturbing turn, with allegations of assault, threats, intimidation and attempts to silence the family.
The allegations remain subject to investigation, but the family says they now fear not only for Daniel's health, but also for their own safety.
The day everything changed
Daniel's ordeal began on June 27, 2026, when the 15-year-old reportedly went to Arena Church in Nakabuggo along Sentama Road, where he and some of his friends had been doing casual work during reconstruction of the church.
According to his family, Daniel was supposed to receive Shs15,000 for the work, but payments were allegedly not made. The amount he was reportedly owed eventually accumulated to about Shs150,000.
On June 27, Daniel returned to the church to ask for his money.
According to his mother, he was allegedly assaulted by Noah Boreen Bugembe, whom the family identifies as a bouncer, security guard and bodyguard attached to the church pastor.
The family alleges that Bugembe struck Daniel around the ribs with a paving stone. Daniel went home but did not immediately tell his mother what had happened. His mother says he had allegedly been threatened and warned against disclosing the incident, including threats against the family.
Daniel was only 15. As the eldest boy in a household headed by his mother, the family believes he may have remained silent because he was frightened and felt responsible for protecting his mother and siblings.
A child becomes seriously ill
Daniel's condition later deteriorated. According to his mother, he began passing blood instead of urine and developed other serious symptoms. He eventually became severely incapacitated and could no longer live normally. His mother subsequently learned about the alleged assault and reported the matter to police. The family says officers from Bukasa Police Station in Wakiso visited their home, recorded Daniel's statement and referred him for further medical assessment.
Daniel underwent medical examinations, including scans, X-rays and blood tests.
His family says the examinations revealed serious internal complications.
However, the precise medical diagnosis, the cause of the complications and their relationship to the alleged assault should be established through official medical records and independent medical assessment.
Daniel received treatment but was eventually discharged after his mother could no longer afford the medical expenses. He returned home without the specialised care his family says he requires.
A surgery date approaches
Daniel's family says doctors have scheduled him for surgery on August 26, 2026, at an estimated cost of Shs2.5 million. His mother is now appealing for financial assistance.
For a teenager who was recently attending school, Daniel's current condition represents a devastating change.
His mother describes him as extremely thin, pale and unable to do many of the things he could previously do independently.
The search for justice
While trying to secure medical treatment, Daniel's mother has also continued pursuing the criminal case surrounding the alleged assault.
According to her account, Noah was arrested in connection with the case and was later released.
The family also alleges that another man associated with the church's security team subsequently went to their home and attacked Daniel.
His mother says she returned home and found the man allegedly strangling her son. She says she raised an alarm, causing the man to flee.
The identity and actions of the alleged second attacker have not been independently established.
The family says the incident intensified their fears and made them concerned for their safety.
A new and disturbing allegation
The latest information provided by Daniel's family has added another layer to the case.
According to Maama Daniel, a woman identified as Musumba Zawedde Claire, whom she describes as a translator at Arena Church, allegedly warned her to stop pursuing justice for her son.
The mother claims she was told that if she continued seeking justice, she and her children would be killed.
She further alleges that she was told a man known as Kiboneka was a hired assassin who could kill her and her children if she refused to abandon the case.
These are extremely serious allegations and have not been independently verified.
However, according to Maama Daniel, she later had an opportunity to meet Kiboneka herself.
Despite the fear created by what she says she had been told about him, she went to speak to him.
The mother says Kiboneka told her that he knew nothing about what had happened to Daniel.
This has led her to suspect that Kiboneka's name may have been used to frighten her into abandoning the case.
That possibility, however, remains an allegation and would need to be established through an independent investigation.
Pastor contacted over allegations
Attempts have also been made to obtain a response from Pastor Frank Ndugwa, whom the family identifies as the pastor of Arena Church. When contacted, the pastor reportedly said he could not discuss Daniel's case extensively unless he met with the reporter in person.
The pastor's response is important because several allegations have been made concerning people said to be associated with the church. Maama Daniel alleges that when she eventually met the pastor, he made a statement concerning Noah and Daniel's hospital bills that she interpreted as implying that Noah had been expected to kill Daniel. According to her account, the pastor allegedly said Noah should pay Daniel's hospital bills because he had failed to complete what he had supposedly started. The mother says the alleged "job" referred to killing Daniel.
Pastor Frank Ndugwa
This is an extraordinary and potentially criminal allegation. It has not been independently verified, and the pastor should be given a full opportunity to respond to the specific claim.
If such words were actually spoken, however, they would warrant serious investigation by the relevant authorities.
Who is Noah?
Noah Boreen Bugembe is the man previously identified by Daniel's family as the person who allegedly assaulted the teenager. The family describes him as a bouncer and security guard working with the pastor and the church.
Another sensitive aspect of the case is that Noah's parents reportedly live in the same community as Daniel's family. The family also says his parents attend the same church where Noah reportedly worked.
For Maama Daniel, this has heightened her sense of vulnerability because she says she has to live in the same community as the family of the man she believes injured her son.
Allegations that demand investigation
The case now contains a series of competing and disturbing allegations.
There are claims that Daniel was assaulted.
There are claims that the teenager was threatened into silence.
There are allegations that his mother was subsequently threatened.
There are claims that a person's name was allegedly used to intimidate the family.
There are allegations concerning conversations between the mother and church officials.
There are medical records and examinations that need to be independently assessed.
There are police records and statements that should form part of the investigation.
And there are competing accounts that must be tested against evidence.
The responsible course of action is therefore not to determine guilt through social media, but to ensure that the relevant authorities conduct a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation.
Daniel still needs help
Whatever the outcome of the allegations, one fact remains immediate: Daniel is a 15-year-old child who is seriously ill and needs medical attention. His family says he requires Shs2.5 million for surgery scheduled for August 26. Those wishing to support the family have been provided with the following contacts:
Airtel: 0756 410 088 — Nattabi Faridah
MTN: 0762 814 570 — Nakijjoba Asia
For security reasons, the family's exact location and the hospital where Daniel is being treated have not been disclosed.
A case that needs answers
Daniel's story has moved beyond a dispute over money or a single alleged assault.
It now raises broader questions about the safety of children, accountability, protection of vulnerable families and the responsibility of institutions to ensure that allegations of violence are properly investigated.
Most importantly, it raises a simple question:
What happened to Daniel?
And while the authorities work to answer that question, another remains equally urgent:
Who will help this 15-year-old boy get the medical treatment he needs?
Daniel was a student with a future ahead of him. Today, his family says that future is hanging in the balance.
His mother is asking for two things: medical help for her son and justice for what happened to him.
Both require urgent attention.
Editor’s note:
This story contains serious allegations provided by Daniel’s family and other sources. The allegations have not been independently established and should not be treated as proven facts. Individuals named in connection with the allegations should be given an opportunity to respond, and any such responses should be published fairly. The medical claims should also be verified against official medical records and independent medical assessment. The safety and privacy of Daniel and his family should be prioritised, particularly given the alleged threats.
