Vehicle of kidnapped NGO worker found in Kampala

The car belonging to Maria Nagirinya, the 28-year-old woman who is feared kidnapped has been found dumped in Nateete, Rubaga division.

Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigire told New Vision that the vehicle registration number UBA 570V was discovered abandoned on Mackay Road last night.

"Our officers are inspecting it. We are waiting for them to do there work," he said.

Nagirinya, a worker with Community Integrated Development Initiative (CIDI) a Muyenga based non-governmental organisation, was reportedly grabbed by unknown men as she entered her home in Lungujja, a Kampala city suburb.  

The incident was witnessed by Sylvia Nambalira a family member, who reported seeing Nagirinya struggling to fight off two men who accessed her car.

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

The sister opened and just as she was driving in, the two men who were trailing her grabbed her and threw her in the back seat of her car, a Toyota Spacio.

"There was a 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 CIDI offices in Muyenga on Wednesday and left at 2:00 pm.

"We had training in Muyenga CIDI offices that ended at 2:00 pm and she than 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 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.

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.

The incident revives memories of Susan Magara who was killed last year.

She was kidnapped on February 7, 2018, as she drove home from work. Her body was found three weeks later in Kigo, Wakiso.