Kidnapping Shocks Kisoro: Pupil Held for 8 Million Shillings Ransom

Congolese Laborer Demands 8M Ransom for Pupil

Kidnapping incidents have been reported in the Kisoro district of Uganda. A 10-year-old pupil, John Mary Irankunda, was kidnapped by a 20-year-old Congolese laborer named Hakiza. The kidnapper is demanding a ransom of 8 million shillings for the boy’s release. This alarming incident has raised concerns in the region.

Irankunda, a student at Nshungwe Primary School in Kisoro, was living in Kanyacucu village, Busengo parish, Nyarubuye sub-county. Hakiza, the kidnapper, had been working as a casual laborer at Irankunda’s home for about a month. However, on October 22, 2023, Hakiza disappeared with the young boy, leaving his family deeply worried.

Moses Ninzeyimana, the boy’s father and a teacher, took immediate action. When their attempts to locate Irankunda and Hakiza failed, he filed a missing person report with the Busanza Police Post.

The situation took a disturbing turn when Hakiza used a mobile phone he had stolen from Irankunda’s home to contact the boy’s relatives. He demanded a ransom of 8 million shillings for the safe release of the kidnapped child.

Elly Maate, the Police Spokesperson for Kigezi region, stated that Kisoro Police Station is handling this case. They are currently working on obtaining call data from the telephone numbers being used by the suspect, Hakiza.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident in the region. Kidnappings for ransom have been reported in the past, affecting both locals and tourists. Such incidents have put immense pressure on the local authorities and security forces, necessitating swift action to ensure the safety of the community.

Below is a summary of recent kidnapping incidents in the Kisoro region: