It is alleged that Namukobe, a resident of Namukoge Village in Namugongo Sub-County, Kaliro District, connived with a motorcyclist, only identified as Gasita, to abduct the child as she headed to Bright Future Primary School on November 29, 2024.
Police in Busoga North are holding two women on suspicion of involvement in the kidnap of a four-year-old girl. The suspects, identified as Mariam Namukobe and Irene Babita, are currently detained at Kaliro Central Police Station, awaiting prosecution.
It is alleged that Namukobe, a resident of Namukoge Village in Namugongo Sub-County, Kaliro District, connived with a motorcyclist, only identified as Gasita, to abduct the child as she headed to Bright Future Primary School on November 29, 2024.
When the child failed to return home, her grandmother, Edinansi Nakayima, went to Bright Future Primary School, where she was informed that her granddaughter had not appeared at school that day. Nakayima filed a missing persons report at Kaliro Central Police Station on November 30, prompting detectives to launch an investigation.
Nakayima later received calls from unidentified individuals on December 1, instructing her to pay a ransom of three million shillings for the child’s release. “I had planned to sell part of the family land to raise the ransom of three million shillings when detectives informed me that they had clear leads on the child’s whereabouts,” Nakayima said.
The girl was recovered on Tuesday following police action. Namukobe reportedly confessed to the crime, claiming she kidnapped her niece in an attempt to extort money from Nakayima. She described Nakayima as "a conservative mother" who hoards her cash instead of helping her family in times of need.
Namukobe said, “I could only get money from Nakayima by kidnapping her grandchild, whom she loved the most.” She admitted to hiring Gasita to transport the child to a deserted sugarcane plantation in the area. Namukobe later handed the girl over to her friend Babita in Kiringa Village, Nawandala Sub-County, Iganga District.
However, after realizing that community radios were broadcasting announcements about the missing child, both Namukobe and Babita voluntarily surrendered to the police in Kaliro, where they also handed over the child.
Busoga North Police Spokesperson, Michael Kasadha, said the suspects will face charges of kidnap and conspiracy to commit a crime. Kasadha urged the public to remain vigilant, saying, “Some evil-minded individuals, including cunning family relatives, scheme to create havoc undetected.”
He confirmed that investigations are complete and that the suspects will be presented before the court to face further prosecution.
