A woman has been arrested for allegedly abducting a friend’s four-year-old son, Mark Engole, for failing to pay a 200,000 Shillings debt.
Jacqueline Basilika says that Sharon Kihembo approached her at around 9 pm on Tuesday and asked for her son to help carry items she had left at a boda-boda stage.
Since the two have known each other in Kanyogoga village, Bukasa parish, Makindye Division, Basilika did not hesitate. She allowed her son to help Kihembo without knowing that the plan was to abduct him.
Basilika says that she later received distressing information from another friend, Grace Alenyo, that Kihembo had called on her phone demanding clearance of a 200,000 Shillings debt in order to release the child.
Alenyo said Kihembo told her that she gave the money to Basilika when she was pregnant but she did not bother paying back.
“True, I owe her the 200,000 she gave me when I was pregnant. But I didn’t know that she could reach the extent of abducting my child. She even said that she needed now 800,000 shillings, not the 200,000 she gave me,” Basilika told police.
However, police on Thursday recovered the boy after arresting Kihembo from Nakasero Market in Kampala City. Kihembo later led police to Makindye Salama where she had hidden the boy as she waited for Basilika to send the money.
Luke Owoyesigyire, the Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, said Kihembo’s arrest came after residents tipped the police.
Police have since reunited Engole with his mother Basilika while Kihembo is now in Kabalagala police custody waiting to face charges of abduction in court.
“We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the community members who provided information and assisted in the investigation. The collaboration between the police and the public played a pivotal role in the recovery of Engole Mark,” Owoyesigyire said.
Kabalagala police officers have vowed to remain committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents in the area.
Police said it will continue employing all available resources and investigative techniques to bring perpetrators of such heinous acts to justice.
Police have urged the public to remain vigilant, report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station, and refrain from engaging in any form of illegal lending or borrowing as it can lead to grave consequences.
