Wanzalla Okechi, one of the affected fishermen who is still pursuing the release of his boat engine, fishing boat and 14 sets of fishing nets told Uganda Radio Network in a telephone interview this morning that the militiamen are demanding US$ 500 to release his fishing gear.
Aswa River Region Police Spokesperson, Patrick Jimmy Okema disclosed that the victim’s mother revealed that the alleged kidnappers called and demanded 400,000 shillings to be sent to the victim’s contact before he is released.
Ely Maate, the Kigezi Region Police Spokesperson, says Mbeeta was released around midday on Tuesday after his family sent his kidnappers Shillings 1.5 million via mobile money. The kidnappers had demanded for Shillings 2 million, but the victims family pleaded with them to accept Shillings 1.5million.
Ely Maate, the Kigezi Region Police Spokesperson, says Mugabes family negotiated with the kidnappers to reduce the ransom money from USD 20,000 and settled for USD 7500. He says Mugabes family sent the money prompting his kidnappers to escort him to Ishasha border in the wee hours of Tuesday morning where they set him free.
In a message read on his behalf by the second Deputy Mufti, Sheikh Muhammad Ali Waiswa at Uganda Muslim Supreme Council headquarters on Thursday afternoon to coincide with the beginning of Ramadhan, Sheikh Mubaje, said it is very sad and unfortunate that such strange acts are happening in Uganda.
Mercy Ainembabazi, a mother to the victim says that the kidnapper identified as Peter Kwarikunda a resident of Lyakarimira town council in Kabale district rang them on phone and demanded a seven million shillings ransom or else he chops off the victims head.
According to Sunday, he got scared and wondered how the kidnappers knew that he had involved the police raising suspicion that the kidnappers could be trailing him.
Charles Mugisha, the father of the suspect, says that he immediately rushed to police for help, saying he couldnt raise the four million Shillings ransom.
At about midday, Bbale\'s phone number called Mr Ssemuga the elder brother who is a resident of Katwe, a Kampala suburb but the person on the other side of the phone was not his young brother and neither did he sound friendly.
