KAMPALA, UGANDA – In a landmark victory for technology-led policing, a six-year-old boy, Mpirwe Tumwesigye Abraham, was successfully rescued from kidnappers on Friday, December 19, 2025, following a high-tech investigation that combined traditional policing with advanced digital intelligence.
The child went missing from Kawempe Division, prompting immediate deployment of conventional search operations by security agencies. However, the critical breakthrough emerged in the digital realm.
Marvin Kashaija Blessed, Director of the Cyber Security and Forensics Assistance Unit (CSFAU) and a Certified Digital Forensics Expert, supported investigators by widely circulating the missing child’s notice across multiple social media platforms and deploying advanced digital trace analysis using proprietary forensic tools.
By analysing movement patterns and digital signatures invisible to the naked eye, the CSFAU team worked closely with the Uganda Police Forensic Department to generate actionable intelligence.
This coordinated effort led security teams to the suspect’s location in Wakiso District, where the child was safely recovered.
During the formal handover of the child at Nsambya Police Health Services, the Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) Spokesperson, SP Kawala Rachael, underscored the growing importance of digital forensics in modern law enforcement. She also issued a strong advisory to the public on child safety.
“While our forensic teams are capable of tracing suspects, prevention starts at home. Parents and guardians must conduct thorough background checks on domestic helpers before entrusting them with their children,” SP Kawala said.
The rescue was met with emotional scenes as Mpirwe’s mother expressed deep gratitude to the security agencies and national leadership.
“I am deeply grateful to H.E. the President for his leadership in securing our country, and I especially thank the digital forensics experts and the Police for using their skills to trace my son and bring him back to me,” she said.
Describing the operation as a strategic milestone, Kashaija Marvin Blessed said the rescue represented more than a criminal investigation success.
“This wasn’t just a rescue; it was a deployment of digital sovereignty. To protect our citizens in 2026 and beyond, we must treat the digital realm as a frontline in defending our country from both external and internal cyber threats. We are no longer just technicians, we are cyber war fighters protecting our homes from the shadows of the internet,” he stated.
Kashaija further emphasized that the CSFAU’s success highlights the urgent need to scale home-grown digital talent to bridge technical gaps within national security agencies and strengthen forensic support in criminal investigations both locally and globally.
