A single piece of underwear hanging high in a tree became the haunting clue in the 2015 disappearance of 21-year-old Dutch medical student Sophia Koetsier in Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park. On October 28, 2015, Sophia vanished during a safari, leaving a trail of evidence that continues to puzzle investigators and her family nearly a decade later. Her unsolved case is drawing fresh scrutiny with a court case unfolding in 2025.
Sophia Koetsier, a dedicated medical student from Amsterdam, had just finished a two-month internship at Lubaga Hospital in Kampala. She joined two Dutch companions and a local tour guide, Michael Kijjambu, for a 17-day safari to celebrate. On the evening of her disappearance, the group reached the park’s Student Education Centre, a basic facility near the Nile River. Around 6:00 PM, Sophia said she was going to the bathroom and never returned.
Her companions alerted authorities, and her mother, Marije Slijkerman, received a distressing call that night. Searches soon revealed a disturbing scene. Sophia Koetsier’s shoes sat neatly on the ground, her purse was undisturbed, and her pants were cut into strips. Most chillingly, a single piece of her underwear was found 16 feet high in a tree along the riverbank.
Later tests, pursued by her family, detected unidentified male DNA on some items, raising questions about the official narrative. Ugandan authorities concluded that a wild animal, such as a lion or crocodile, attacked Sophia, or that she drowned in the Nile. However, the lack of blood, the careful arrangement of her belongings, and the DNA findings pointed to possible foul play. Sophia’s family, led by her tireless mother, rejects the animal attack theory.
Through the Foundation Find Sophia, Slijkerman has made 28 trips to Uganda, tracking down witnesses and evidence overlooked by police. She has criticized the initial investigation for its lack of thorough forensic work. A 2022 police probe proved disappointing, offering no new leads.
In 2025, a court case against Kijjambu, who allegedly lacked a valid tour guide license, reignited hope. Testimony revealed he ignored warnings about Sophia Koetsier’s erratic behavior days earlier in Kidepo Valley National Park, where a warden advised seeking medical help. As of September 2025, the ongoing trial has highlighted flaws in Uganda’s tourism safety measures. A park ranger testified that the scene didn’t match an animal attack, as animals don’t place items neatly or hang clothing in trees.
In July 2025, Slijkerman’s emotional court testimony described the guide’s negligence in choosing an unsecured location and the family’s enduring pain. The case has prompted wider concerns about tourist safety in Uganda’s national parks, especially following other incidents, like a 2019 kidnapping nearby.
Sophia would have turned 31 on December 7, 2024, a milestone marked by a poignant family tribute. The ninth anniversary of her disappearance, October 28, 2024, saw renewed media coverage in Uganda, urging the public not to forget her.
The family’s website continues to share updates, encouraging tips via [email protected]
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