Ugandan Businessman Who was Kidnapped and Taken to DRC Released After Shs 28M Ransom

A man who was last week kidnapped from Kanungu district by armed men said to have been dressed in Congolese military attire, has been released by his captors.

The victim, Robert Mugabe was kidnapped on August 3 by four people while he and three other people were driving through Queen Elizabeth national park in Kanungu district.

Armed assailants waylaid a vehicle (Isuzu Canter) in which the four were traveling in the national park and shot at and injured them. The vehicle was carrying fish from Kasese. An unspecified amount of money was also robbed by the armed people.

Read More: 3 Ugandans Shot and Robbed, Another Kidnapped by Assailants ‘in Congolese Army Attire’

Three of the occupants were injured in the legs.

The injured were identified as Patrick Bukora, 40, a resident of Nakasongola district who was driving. The others are Julius Saturday, a businessman fron Busia district and Nasolo Sauda, a business woman from Nakasongola district.

Mugabe’s captors upon his kidnap demanded a ransom of USD 20,000, an equivalent of Shs 76 million.

The victim is a 38-year-old who hails from Busoni village, Kituba parish, Nabiswera sub-county in Nakasongola district.

Police Spokesperson for Kigezi Region, Elly Matte said in a statement on Tuesday that Mugabe was taken to a forest in neighboring DRC and later released after his family paid a ransom of USD 7,500 (Shs 28m).

“On August 7 at around 2pm, after his relatives depositing a ransom of $7500 on his telephone number, and was escorted by kidnapers to Ishasha border market,” Matte said in a statement.

There, Mugabe was untied and let free.

The victim told Police that while in the forest, he heard kidnappers speaking Rukiga, Runyankole and some bits of Kiswahili.

He said he was served posho and beans once after the Shs 28m payment was made.

The SIM card through which the transaction was made was later destroyed by kidnappers.

Matte described the incident as organised crime that calls for vigilance and resources.

“We have taken note. These people have been taking advantage of the forest area. We urge people to report immediately if they see any suspicious persons,” he said.