By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
BUSHENYI
A 7-year-old child was kidnapped by unknown people in Bushenyi district, southwest Uganda.
Itungo Sasha, a Primary Two (P2) pupil at Katungu primary school was reportedly kidnapped in Bugomora Cell, Ward III, Ishaka Division in Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, Bushenyi district on September 26, at 7pm.
The victim had been sent to buy cooking oil at the nearby trading centre, approximately 400 meters from their home, when she disappeared. Her parents became suspicious when she did not return and immediately began searching for her without success, and they decided to report the matter to the police.
According to the Greater Bushenyi Police spokesperson, SSP Martial Tumusiime, the child’s father received a threatening phone call while on his way to the police station, the caller seemed motivated by revenge of a past grievance.
“On their way to the police station,” SSP Martial narrated, “a certain telephone contact called the father, Herbert Byamukama, 40, (reporter) and he was told that “You Kajubi (Nickname of the father’) what u did to me while in Bwera, is what am going to do to your child, don’t go to police because I will kill the child if you do so”.
Martial said the caller (identity not known) was a man using telephone No 0789253817 in the name of Donosio Bejura.
“He ended the call as the reporter was inquiring more about the caller, As the parents reached the police, he kept warning the parents not to report to police. Later on he switched off his phone, leaving the parents in shock,” Martial added.
Despite the threats, the parents proceeded to the police station, where they filed a report under case number CRB 152/2024. When asked, the victim’s father admitted to have lived in Bwera previously but but denied knowing the person behind the threatening call.
SSP Tumusiime revealed that efforts to locate the child have so far been unsuccessful because the area where the abduction occurred is not covered by any CCTV Cameras, making the search more difficult. However, he said police are working to obtain call data and trace the suspect and recover the victim.
