Child kidnapped from Mengo rescued in DRC, suspect arrested after sh30m ransom demand

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A child who was kidnapped last week from Musajja Alumbwa Road in Mengo has been successfully rescued in a cross-border security operation involving Ugandan security forces and their DR Congolese counterparts, Police have said.

Addressing the media during the weekly joint security briefing at Police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala, on Monday, Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma said the child was abducted on July 21, 2025, and was later tracked across the border into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

“Our intelligence-led team was able to follow the suspects’ movements into DRC, where, with the support of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and co-ordination from our regional security partners, the child was successfully rescued and one suspect arrested,” Kituuma said.

The kidnappers had demanded a ransom of shillings 30 million, according to the Police. Fortunately, the child was recovered unharmed and has since been reunited with the family.

Kituuma identified one of the arrested suspects as Amani Jasteri, a 17-year-old male from Mujore village, Bunagana parish, Jomba sub-county, Rucuru district in the eastern region of the DRC.

“The suspect is currently in custody and will be processed in accordance with the law. Investigations are still ongoing to identify and arrest other accomplices,” Kituuma added.

He commended the swift response and collaboration between Ugandan and Congolese security forces, describing the successful recovery as “a demonstration of strong cross-border cooperation in combating transnational crimes.”

Police also warned criminal groups exploiting porous border areas that they will be pursued and brought to justice regardless of where they attempt to hide.

Kidnaps

The Police Annual Crime Report 2024 says 4.3% of the reported cases were as a result of child-related Offences, with 9,408 cases where children/juveniles were direct targets/victims of crime in 2024, compared to 10,741 cases reported in 2023, thus giving a 12.4% decrease in the registered crimes in this category countrywide.

Of these crimes, Police registered 159 kidnap cases in 2024, 159 in 2023, 205 cases in 2022, 291 in 2021, 382 in 2020 and 401 in 2019.

"By the end of 2024, out of the total cases of Child-related Offences reported to Police, 862 cases were taken to Court, 4,183 were not proceeded with, while 4,363 cases are still under inquiry. Out of the total cases taken to Court, 207 cases secured convictions, 97 cases were dismissed, 66 cases acquitted, while 492 cases are still pending in Court".