Police recover seven-year-old kidnapped child

KAMPALA - Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, said they had successfully rescued a seven-year-old girl who had been kidnapped from Galabi Village, Namataba Town Council, Mukono District, and arrested the prime suspect together with the guest house manager.

Luke Owoyesigyire, Deputy Public Relations Officer KMP, said the victim, Precious Natukunda, was allegedly kidnapped on April 27th 2026, by Ivan Masaba Kutosi.

“Following a report made by her mother, police immediately commenced a search. On Tuesday, April 28th 2026, joint teams conducted an operation in Bweyogerere and traced the suspect. He was arrested in Kasubi Centre and led officers to Equator Guest House, where the victim was found safe,” Owoyesigyire said.

He revealed that the guest house manager, Anna Nangobi, was also arrested to assist in investigations.

“A mobile phone used by the suspect was recovered,” he added.

Crime statistics

While releasing the Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2025, early this month,  the Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba said a total of 196,405 cases were reported to Police compared to 218,715 in 2024, which represents a 10.2% reduction.

Out of the reported cases, 115,301 were submitted to the Office of the Director Public Prosecutions from which 79,291 were taken to Court.

In 2025, a total of 8,064 cases, representing 4.1% of the total reported cases, constituted child-related offences.

These declined from 9,408 reported in 2024, giving a 14.3% decrease. Out of these, 848 cases were taken to court, 176 secured convictions, 68 were dismissed, 06 had acquittals, and 598 are undergoing trial, 3,486 were not proceeded with, while 3,730 are still under inquiry.

118 cases of child abduction were reported in 2025 compared to 159 in the previous year, 2024.