Police in Kampala are hunting for Justine Namuleme, a resident of Kigoma village in Bukasa parish, Nansana, who allegedly kidnapped her four-year-old son and demanded a ransom from her husband.
The incident happened on September 3 when Namuleme, the mother of the child, reportedly kidnapped him and concealed his whereabouts.
Kampala Metropolitan deputy police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, revealed that the father, Steven Wensiga, aged 50, reported the disappearance of his son to Nansana Police Station.
A few days later, Wensiga found an anonymous letter at his door demanding a sum of Shs4 million in exchange for the safe return of their son.
Owoyesigyire disclosed that Wensiga immediately informed the authorities about the ransom demand, triggering an investigation into the matter. Notably, the provided contact number for communication with the kidnappers was initially unavailable.
The police conveyed to Namuleme that the contact number was inactive. She subsequently volunteered to inform her husband that the number would become available again shortly. True to her words, the number was soon active once more.
This series of events raised suspicions about Namuleme’s possible involvement in her son’s kidnapping and the subsequent ransom demand.
Investigators sought to question her further regarding the incident.
“When we came to ask her some questions about the kidnap, she used the backdoor of the house to escape. The following day, the child returned home,” Owoyesigyire said.
The four-year-old boy, upon questioning, revealed that his mother, Namuleme, had entrusted him to a boda boda rider who returned him home.
The police are actively pursuing the apprehension of the individuals involved in this case, with a particular focus on Namuleme.
