Police in Kampala have arrested a man accused of abducting several children and demanding ransom from their families in a series of coordinated kidnappings across different parts of the city.
The suspect, identified as Odongo Isaac, was arrested on 4 May 2026 at around 6:00pm in Nankulabye Zone 7 following an intelligence-led operation by the Flying Squad unit.
According to police, the arrest followed investigations into three separate child kidnapping cases reported under CRB 468/2026 (Old Kampala), CRB 485/2026 (Old Kampala), and CRB 200/2006 (Wandegeya). The victims include Kasirye Ethan (5), Kalenzi Joram Yosam (6), and Kibira Ramathan (5), all abducted from areas within Kasubi, Nankulabye, and parts of Kawempe Division.
Police say the suspect used different locations and methods to move the children after abducting them on separate days between 28 April and 2 May 2026.
Investigations show that Kalenzi Joram was taken from Kasubi on 28 April and later abandoned in Njeru near the Jinja Bridge after no ransom was received. On 30 April, Kasirye Ethan was abducted from Nankulabye and reportedly transported to Lira.
The final victim, Kibira Ramathan, was abducted on 2 May from Makerere. Police say the suspect later received Shs40,000 from the child’s mother before releasing him on 3 May and abandoning him in Kalerwe at around 11:00pm.
During interrogation, Odongo Isaac allegedly confessed to the crimes and admitted to holding the children in different locations while demanding money from their parents.
Two of the victims, Kalenzi Joram and Kibira Ramathan, have since been recovered safely from Njeru and Kalerwe respectively. Police in Lira City West confirmed that Kasirye Ethan was abandoned in Lira, and efforts are underway to reunite him with his family.
Police in Kampala have arrested a man accused of abducting several children and demanding ransom from their families in a series of coordinated kidnappings across different parts of the city.
The suspect, identified as Odongo Isaac, was arrested on 4 May 2026 at around 6:00pm in Nankulabye Zone 7 following an intelligence-led operation by the Flying Squad unit.
According to police, the arrest followed investigations into three separate child kidnapping cases reported under CRB 468/2026 (Old Kampala), CRB 485/2026 (Old Kampala), and CRB 200/2006 (Wandegeya). The victims include Kasirye Ethan (5), Kalenzi Joram Yosam (6), and Kibira Ramathan (5), all abducted from areas within Kasubi, Nankulabye, and parts of Kawempe Division.
Police say the suspect used different locations and methods to move the children after abducting them on separate days between 28 April and 2 May 2026.
Investigations show that Kalenzi Joram was taken from Kasubi on 28 April and later abandoned in Njeru near the Jinja Bridge after no ransom was received. On 30 April, Kasirye Ethan was abducted from Nankulabye and reportedly transported to Lira.
The final victim, Kibira Ramathan, was abducted on 2 May from Makerere. Police say the suspect later received UGX 40,000 from the child’s mother before releasing him on 3 May and abandoning him in Kalerwe at around 11:00pm.
During interrogation, Odongo Isaac allegedly confessed to the crimes and admitted to holding the children in different locations while demanding money from their parents.
Two of the victims, Kalenzi Joram and Kibira Ramathan, have since been recovered safely from Njeru and Kalerwe respectively. Police in Lira City West confirmed that Kasirye Ethan was abandoned in Lira, and efforts are underway to reunite him with his family.
Police say investigations are ongoing as they continue to track possible links to other similar kidnapping incidents in Kampala.
