Student kidnapped on his way to school

 

Samuel Namanya, 18, a student of Vienna High School, was allegedly kidnapped at about 6:30am, moments after he had set off from home in Simbwa zone, Kabowa parish in Rubaga division. He had just parted with his mother Sedridah Natukunda, 42, a businesswoman in Owino market, when he was kidnapped in Kabowa, according to Police.

 

The mother, the Police said, was only alerted about the son’s ordeal when his captors allegedly called informing her of his plight and demanding a sh20m ransom. The thugs are said to have called on two separate mobile phone numbers, first on 0757538773 and later on 0757538372.

 

“They said she either pays them the money through mobile money or finds her son dead,” sources said.

 

Terrified, Natukunda, who pleaded with the thugs to give her some time to raise the money, rushed to the Kampala Central Police Station (CPS). The thugs reportedly demanded that Natukunda sends the money through the number ending with 73.

 

At the CPS, she was referred to the Police Special Investigations Division (SID) in Kireka on the outskirts of Kampala and later advised to report a

case of kidnap at Kitebi Police Station.

 

The thugs are said to have later allowed Natukunda to speak to her son on phone, but after depositing sh98,000.

 

“She could not properly hear what her son was saying because he seemed to be under duress and covered with something,” a source said. New Vision has, however, learnt that the Police Flying Squad had launched investigations into the matter and was hunting the kidnappers. There were reports late in the evening that one suspect had been arrested. Natukunda yesterday declined to discuss the matter when New Vision contacted her.

 

When contacted, Flying Squad boss Herman Owomugisha was terse: “I am busy looking for him. Leave me alone,” he said and hung up.

 

However, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) boss at Katwe Police Station, under which Kitebi falls, Emmanuel Ayebare, yesterday confirmed the matter.

 

However, sources yesterday expressed fears that the probe may be complicated by the fact that some owners of sim cards are unregistered subscribers.

 

There have been a number of kidnaps particularly of children in the city this year, with some ending in tragedy.

 

In February, a student of Makerere University Business School, Emily Akire, was kidnapped and murdered. Hardly a month later, in March this year, Joan Namazzi, a 17-yearold student of St. Mark’s College Namagoma, was kidnapped and later murdered by unknown goons.