Security hunts for missing woman

Security agencies are hunting for Maria Nagirinya Gateni, a staff of Community Integrated Development Initiatives (CIDI) a Non-Government Organisation that works in the Water and Sanitation sub-sector, who was reportedly kidnapped on Wednesday night.

According to Sylvia Nambalira a close family member, Nagirinya was kidnapped at around 11 pm shortly after his younger sister had opened for her the gate by two men who trailed her to their rented premises at Lungujja-Busega Community zone. "She called her sister as she approached the gate to open for her.

The sister opened and Justas she was driving in, two men who were trailing her, grabbed her and threw her in the back seat of her car a Toyota Spacio registration number UBA 570 V. There was a big scuffle and the sister made an alarm but they just drove off" Nambalira said.

According to her close friend Rose Mwambazi, Nagirinya attended a training at the NGO's office in Muyenga on Wednesday and left at 2 pm.

"We had training in Muyenga CIDI offices that ended at 2:00pm and she then drove away even before having lunch. We didn't know where she went. At around 11 pm, we received a call from her father who reported she had been kidnapped," Mwambazi said.

 

The family also told New Vision that all her phones had been switched off and the kidnappers had not yet made any demands.

On Thursday morning, the family reported a kidnap case at Busega Kibumbubiro police station under reference 04/29/08/2019. Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Patrick Onyango confirmed they had opened up a case and also recorded statements.

"We have registered a case of kidnap and the case and it is being handled by the Katwe Police station. We have recorded a statement from relatives and friends and investigations are going on," Onyango said.

Onyango noted that the Police CCTV footage recorded the car at Kinawataka and that the hunt for the suspects was ongoing.

Rehema Aanyu, Nagirinya's workmate told the New Vision that they were praying for her divine protection.

This would not be the first kidnap incident in Lunguja. Last year Susan Magara a cashier with Bwendero Dairy Farm along Kabaka Anjagala road in Rubaga was kidnapped while driving to her home in Lungujja, Lubaga Division early this month. Her motor vehicle was found abandoned on the roadside after the kidnap.

She would later be found dead three weeks after her family had even paid a ransom.

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