By Kenneth Wamatoyi
KALIRO
The Police in Kaliro have arrested a 27-year-old woman, identified as Namukoba Mariam, along with her friend, Babita Irene, for allegedly kidnapping a 4-year-old child.
The suspects are residents of Namukoge village, Namugongo Sub-county in Kaliro District, and Kiringa, Nawandala Sub-county in Iganga District, respectively. The victim is a niece to Namukoba and a pupil at Bright Future, Namukoge.
Preliminary investigations indicate that on November 29, 2024, at around 1:00 PM, in Namukoge village, a boda-boda cyclist identified only as Gasita, a resident of the same area, offered a lift to the victim on her way from school.
However ASP Michael Kasadha, the Busoga North Spokesperson says the victim did not return home, prompting her grandmother, Nakayima Edinansi, to report the matter to Kaliro Central Police Station. It was later confirmed that the victim had been kidnapped when unknown individuals began making calls demanding a ransom of Shs3 million.
Investigations and intelligence pointed to Namukoba as a suspect. Based on this intelligence, officers arrested her to assist with the investigation on Tuesday, 3rd December, 2024.
Namukoba confessed to receiving the victim from Gasita, the boda-boda rider, who is also the victim’s uncle. She revealed that she initially kept the child in a sugarcane plantation until December 1, 2024, when she transferred the victim to Kiringa, Nawandala Sub-county in Iganga District, where her friend Babita took custody of the child.
The victim was recovered from Babita’s custody, and both women were arrested and taken to Kaliro Police Station along with the victim. Meanwhile, officers have launched a manhunt for the boda-boda rider, who is currently on the run.
Investigations are ongoing.
