Another person kidnapped in Kanungu

Another person has been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in Kanungu District, a few Kilometers to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border.

The latest kidnap victim is Eli Byarugaba, a resident of Bushoro village in Kihembe parish in Kanyantorogo Sub County in Kanungu District. 

Mr Kenneth Tumuhamye, the Kantantorogo Sub County LC III chairperson, said the gunmen kidnapped Byarugaba on Wednesday night around 11:00PM at Kanyashande village in Kanyantorogo Sub County, near Ishasha River.

He said that Byarugaba was riding a motorcycle from the nearby trading Centre in the company of Naris Twinomuhangi and Frank Kanywani, both residents of Nyabubare cell in Kihembe parish when they were intercepted by a gang of six men armed with a Sub Machine Gun, a machete and spear.

Elly Maate, the Kigezi Region Police spokesperson, said the gunmen trapped their victims using a rope they had run across the road. He said Twinomuhangi and Kanywani managed to flee from the gunmen unhurt but Byarugaba was trapped.

Mr Maate said that by Thursday evening police and residents we yet to establish contact with Byarugaba.

“According to the statement by survivors, the gunmen could have crossed to DR Congo since they were only communicating in French and Kiswahili,” he said.

Rampant cases of kidnaps by suspected Congolese gunmen have left Kanungu residents in fear.

During his recent tour in Kigezi tour, President Museveni told residents that the governments of both countries had successfully cracked down on criminals involved in kidnaps.

In July 20, 2019, Akim Niwagaba and Ramadhan Ayinamani, both minors and residents of Seth Bahati and Joselyn Ampeire, from Kyabuyorwa upper village in Kanungu District were kidnapped from their rice garden in Bugarama village in DRC.   

The children were chasing birds from the rice field when two men donning the replicas of the military camouflage uniform armed with AK 47 rifles emerged from the nearby bush and held them at gunpoint. They were released after their parents paid Shs2 million in ransom.

In January 2019, Isaiah Mbeeta, a resident of Munyaga village in Western ward in Kanungu District was kidnapped from his garden in DRC, a few Kilometers from Butogota border.  He was released after his family paid ransom of Shs1.5 million.

In April 2019, Ronald Niwamanya and Dan Tweheyo, both residents of Nyabirehe village in Kanungu District were kidnapped by gunmen from their banana plantation in DRC.  They were released after their parents paid ransom of Shs3.5 million to kidnappers.

Still in April 2019, gunmen kidnapped American tourist, Kimberley Sue Endicott and her Ugandan tour guide, Jean-Paul Mirenge inside Queen Elizabeth National Park in Kanungu District before crossing to DRC, they were later released.