By Daniel Mwesigwa

A district official has escaped from his captors, the police say.

Difasi Muyinda, a veterinary assistant at Budaka district local government was abducted together with his son on Saturday, returned with no injury but lost money and national Identity Card.

His son identified as Masita Muyida, 14, remain in captivity.

Masita is a student at Nalya secondary School and a resident of Bwase cell Budaka town council Budaka District. 

It’s alleged the victim was kidnapped by suspects on 0755961625 in the name of Naguda Moreen vide Budaka CPS SD REF: 37/04/12/2021. 

The kidnappers are demanding for a ransom of Shs 30,000,000 million.  

The matter is currently under investigation.

ASP Immaculate Alaso, the Bukedi Regional Police Spokesperson confirmed the matter to The Gazette

“We want to assure the public that our Directorate of Crime Intelligence has taken up the matter using our sophisticated technology to track down the suspects and we believe we shall rescue and recover the victim,” ASP Alaso said.  

Alaso cautioned the public against rushing to give ransom to kidnappers, advising that instead, the public should report the matter to police for proper action because “when you give them money minus informing the police you are instead promoting the vice.”

Cases of kidnap are not very new in Uganda.   

According to the Police’s Annual Crime Report for the year 2020, the number of cases reported to police increased by 30%.

This is because in 2020, the Police recorded 207 cases of Kidnap throughout the country, compared to 159 cases reported in 2019, giving a 30% increase. But of these, 142 cases were real kidnaps while 65 cases were that of self-kidnap.