News
Hunt on for third child kidnap suspect in Kiboga
Police said the scheme had a financial motive. This was because an anonymous note was left at the mother's business premises bearing a phone contact, demanding a ransom in exchange for the child's return.
Lameck Kigozi, the Wamala Regional Police spokesperson. (File)
By: Simon Masaba, Journalist @New Vision
___________________
A manhunt is underway for a third suspect who is still at large after police rescued a 7-year-old boy who was held incommunicado for two days in a single-room house in Kyankwanzi district in a case that has renewed concern about the dangers children face from people entrusted to take care of them within their communities.
Rayan Lukyamuzi, a pupil at Sedin Paul Primary School in Kiboga, was reported missing on July 7 by his mother, Hanifah Nabugwawo, a 27-year-old mobile money agent in Kiboga town council.
According to Lameck Kigozi, the Wamala Regional Police spokesperson, the boy vanished at around 8:30pm after he was last seen watching videos on the phone of Saulo Nkwanga, a regular client at his mother's mobile money business.
Investigators said Nkwanga used the phone as a distraction to lure the boy away to a nearby market under the pretext of buying Irish potatoes. Nkwanga was reportedly in the company of a friend only identified as Innocent.
Nkwanga was then joined by an accomplice, Moses Collins, who arrived on a motorcycle. Nkwanga and Collins then sent Innocent home and took Lukyamuzi to Kawango village in Mulagi sub-county within Kyankwanzi, where he was handed to Nkwanga's wife, Agnes Ainembambazi, and confined in a single room.
Investigators said Nkwanga used the phone as a distraction to lure the boy away to a nearby market under the pretext of buying Irish potatoes. Nkwanga was reportedly in the company of a friend only identified as Innocent.
Nkwanga was then joined by an accomplice, Moses Collins, who arrived on a motorcycle. Nkwanga and Collins then sent Innocent home and took Lukyamuzi to Kawango village in Mulagi sub-county within Kyankwanzi, where he was handed to Nkwanga's wife, Agnes Ainembambazi, and confined in a single room.
Police said the scheme had a financial motive. This was because an anonymous note was left at the mother's business premises bearing a phone contact, demanding a ransom in exchange for the child's return.
The case broke open after officers visited the scene, recorded witness statements and put out radio announcements appealing for information.
Nkwanga was subsequently arrested and upon interrogation, he led detectives to the house where the boy was being held. The boy was recovered in good health. Ainembambazi was also arrested and is in custody alongside her husband, Nkwanga. Police are still searching for Collins, who remains at large.
Police have appealed to the public to exercise caution over who they allow their children to interact with, warning that; “some people always harbour evil minds against children.”
The case broke open after officers visited the scene, recorded witness statements and put out radio announcements appealing for information.
Nkwanga was subsequently arrested and upon interrogation, he led detectives to the house where the boy was being held. The boy was recovered in good health. Ainembambazi was also arrested and is in custody alongside her husband, Nkwanga. Police are still searching for Collins, who remains at large.
Police have appealed to the public to exercise caution over who they allow their children to interact with, warning that; “some people always harbour evil minds against children.”