(Kampala) – A two and a half year old girl named Era Ashaba, who was kidnapped during a church service in Kisenyi, Kampala, has been successfully rescued in a coordinated police operation. The abduction, which occurred on September 8, 2024, triggered an immediate search effort involving both the authorities and the family.
The incident took place at Kiganda Zone in downtown Kisenyi during a prayer service. Era’s father, Dickson Musiime, a transporter from Busega in Kampala’s Rubaga Division, reported the disappearance after realizing his daughter was missing from the church premises. Musiime, who had attended the service with five family members, said the child’s elder sister, four year old Noera Kemigisha, had taken Era to the church canteen to buy snacks. However, only Noera returned, with no sign of Era.
In a desperate bid to locate the missing child, the church administration reviewed footage from its CCTV cameras. The recordings revealed that Era had been led away from the church by an unidentified woman. The woman, suspected to be the abductor, was seen holding the toddler’s hand before carrying her away from the church grounds, heading towards Kakajo, Kisenyi Zone.
Musiime immediately reported the kidnapping to the Old Kampala Police Station, where the case was logged under reference SD Ref: 66/08/09/2024. Police launched an extensive investigation, deploying detectives and utilizing surveillance tools, including security cameras in the area.
The breakthrough came when investigators tracked the suspect to a rented house in Katwe, Makindye Division, Kampala. The suspect, identified only as Nalubiri, was found hiding with the child in a property surrounded by neighbors. She was arrested at the scene, and Era was safely recovered.
Era has since been reunited with her family, and medical tests have been conducted to ensure her well being. Musiime expressed deep gratitude for the swift action taken by the police and the cooperation from the church in reviewing the CCTV footage.
