The rise and rise of kidnappings in Uganda: criminal acts shake our faith. My simple thoughts for fellow citizens.

Fellow citizens, I write with a lot of sympathy and underwhelming confidence rooted inside my soul. This is premised on the fact that our country is rapidly experiencing a serious humanitarian crisis which many over (70 percent) of the Ugandans have never seen by the fact of their age. (Remember over 70% of the Population is below 35 years). We are surely living our days to forget. 

Total anarchy and terror. Everyone fears everyone. Nobody can trust anybody. Even the men of God were we could be running to for divine intervention are being suspected to be involved. 

The case of Brinah Nalule 22 (R.I.P), a student of YMCA Buwambo campus who was on Saturday 5th, May kidnapped by yet to be identified assailants from the Old Taxi Park as she headed to school.

According to reports, the assailants who pretended to be taxi operates in the taxi park later used Nalule’s phone to call her parents demanding UGX10 million as ransom and when the family failed to make this amount, they would later reduce it to UGX5 million- a figure the family has been toiling to raise by the time their daughter was killed. 

In this case, one Pastor Leonard Wambazu from Mbikko, in Njeru Municipality, has been detained, as Police intensify the case of kidnap and eventual death the student. The suspect is a “Man of God”. Where can we run????

Another sad case is of Joan Namazzi (RIP), the student of St. Mark’s college Namagoma who was kidnapped, tortured and murdered as the parents failed to raise the two million shillings ransom demanded for and so many other innocent souls who have lost their lives. Very sad.

But some notable things deserve mention here. 

1. It is believed that the kidnappers had just dumped another body of their victim of the same age at the same spot a few days earlier. This looks like an operational gang now.

2. They are most likely, an organized but amateur type of criminal gang. This means that they are more to kill the victim even if the ransom is paid. 

3. They are likely operating in taxi parks and guides/ touts.

4. They utilize the victims’ phone to contact the relatives for ransom, not their own because they can easily be traced.

5. They are targeting young ladies only. So far, their suspected victims s have all been ladies. 

To that effect, here are some simple remedies for fellow citizens. We’re all prone to such attacks and therefore lets guard against these barbaric criminals.

1. Avoid travelling alone at most times especially for ladies.

2. Avoid going for “outings” or visitations when you are not with somebody you trust in a car or boda-boda. Boda-bodas have been known for to be part of the gangs and they sell passengers to the criminals at a commission. 

3. Whenever you are moving out with a date or outing, inform at least 5 people including friends and family before you go anywhere. 

4. Avoid asking for help from men in public places such as parks or taxis.

5. Use your instinct and common sense to read posters in taxis. Why should a taxi heading to Bweyogerere park near taxis going to Mulago.?

6. Fathers should endeavor to know the location of their daughters at every particular time even if they are above 30 years. 

7. Avoid phones for girls under 18 years of age. If they are above 18 years and they are carrying smart phones, the GPS setting should be on at all times.

In case you are kidnapped:

1. Do not be defensive. It is of no use. Simply calm down and play along wisely.

2. Your ultimate goal is to stay alive. Being rebellious may not be a good thing to do before the kidnappers. It just gives them more reason to torture you or even kill you. 

3. Forge “Niceness”. They are still humans although they have kidnapped you. Try to initiate a conversation with them. This buys you more time. 

4. Do anything they ask you to do without any struggle and pretend like you are not bothered at all.

5. Make them feel like your relatives can afford to pay the ransom they are asking for. Tell them that the money will be paid soon.

If your loved one is kidnapped:

1. Report to the nearest police station. If police is taking long or unbothered, then walk to the nearest military facility, CMI or ISO and seek help.

2. NEVER Pay the Ransom. It’s a gamble. There is actually a 90% percent likelihood that the victim will be killed even if the ransom is paid because they are criminal armatures. But promise them payment of the Ransom. In fact negotiate it downwards as this gives them false hope and buys you time to involve security. 

3. The government is mandated to arrange payment of this this Ransom. This is normally one of the best tools that security can use to capture the criminals so act like a fool in order not to jeopardize the rescue process.  

Thank you very much and don’t forget to share this information and save one another.