Car found but kidnapped NGO staff still missing
Police found a Toyota Spacio car registration number UBA 570V belonging to Maria Nagirinya at Kitooro zone in Nateete, Rubaga division. Photo by James Kabengwa
What you need to know:
- Closed Circuit Television camera footage reviewed by detectives, according to one source familiar with the inquiries, showed the abductors raced from Busega to the city’s eastern Bweyogerere outskirt before slopping down toward Kinawataka.
Police on Friday morning found a Toyota Spacio car, registration number UBA 570V belonging to Maria Nagirinya who was abducted at the gate of her home in Busega, a Kampala city suburb.
It was found abandoned at Kitooro zone in Nateete, Rubaga division. Police have now classified the finding as one of the exhibits and have cordoned off the area where the car has been found as a crime scene.
The chairmen of Kitooro zone, Mr Ssentamu Badru Ssendagala, said that the place where the car was abandoned is a black spot, where crime is rampant in the area.
"This place is very dark because my residents can’t afford to light up their fences over exorbitant yaka charges," Mr Ssendagala said.
Family and detectives on Thursday told this reporter that unknown gunmen forcibly took Ms Nagirinya, a project manager at Community Integrated Development Initiative (CIDI), a Kampala-based non-governmental organisation, on Wednesday night.
“It’s quite difficult. We are looking forward to seeing her again. We believe God will play His miracles and we reunite with our daughter,” her father, Francis Lubowa, also a CIDI board member, said.
Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson Patrick Onyango said they were liaising with other security agencies to establish the whereabouts of Ms Nagirinya and the motive of her abductors.
No one has claimed responsibility or made demands of ransom to her family, leaving investigators, relatives and the employer in suspense. There is also no information of any prior threats to Ms Nagirinya.
Another person reportedly abducted
Another person identified as Ronald Kitayimbwa, was on Friday reported missing by his relatives.
Mr Kitayimbwa, 35, a boda boda rider was reportedly at the NGO premises on Wednesday night when he and Nagirinya were abducted. Kitayimbwa is a resident of Nalumunye in Wakiso District.
Mr Kitayimbwa, 35
Closed Circuit Television camera footage reviewed by detectives, according to one source familiar with the inquiries, showed the abductors raced from Busega to the city’s eastern Bweyogerere outskirt before slopping down toward Kinawataka.
