Derrick Memory, a key suspect in the 2019 kidnapping of American tourist Kimberly Sue Endicott, has been arrested following a joint security operation.
The arrest was carried out by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and police in the early hours of May 4, 2025, in the Kanungu District.
The kidnapping occurred on April 2, 2019, when Endicott and her Ugandan guide were abducted at gunpoint near the Katooke Gate in the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The kidnappers demanded a ransom of $500,000 (about Shs1.8 billion), and after four tense days of negotiations involving Ugandan authorities and the FBI, Endicott was released.
In a past interview with international media, Endicott described the harrowing experience, recalling how she was forced to sleep on the ground but was given bottled water and a makeshift tent, while her captors drank from muddy holes.
Despite the traumatic ordeal, she expressed a measure of empathy for their dire living conditions while firmly condemning their actions. During her captivity, she was granted a brief phone call to her daughter in the U.S., using it as a lifeline to alert authorities.
Derrick Memory, now 30, had been on the run for years, reportedly hiding out in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and collaborating with armed criminal gangs operating in areas such as Buganza, Nyamirima, Kasoso, and Goma.
According to Maj. Kiconco Tabaro, the UPDF’s 2nd Division Public Information Officer, Memory was found in possession of wildlife products and military gear at the time of his arrest, indicating his involvement in poaching and cross-border criminal activities.
Authorities suspect he provided logistical support to the kidnappers in 2019 and had been tracking him ever since.
Earlier efforts in the investigation also led to the 2019 arrest of Onesmus Byaruhanga, who is accused of tracking Endicott’s movements from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Queen Elizabeth Park. He faces serious charges including kidnapping and aggravated robbery.
Security officials have reiterated their commitment to protecting Uganda’s tourism sector and national parks. They have warned that any threats to tourist safety will be met with strong punitive measures.
