Kidnappers kill 14-year-old after parents fail to pay Shs7m ransom

Police in Isingiro District on Monday exhumed the body of a 14-year-boy who was kidnaped and killed after his parents failed to pay a ransom of Shs7million to the kidnappers.

Peter Oscar Muhairwe, a senior two student of Kagere Secondary School in Ibanda District, is said to have been kidnaped from Kaberebere Town in Isingiro District on February 4, 2019.

“The Kidnapper, called the child’s mother and demanded a Shs7million ransom but instead received Shs200, 000 only. He first hid the child in a pit latrine for some days before killing and burying him just 50 metres away. His body was found tied with a rope,” a family member who preferred anonymity said.

Muhairwe’s mother Jackline Natukunda said she had secured Shs5million from the deceased’s father who stays in Rwanda, but was hesitant to give it to the kidnapper. The deceased was a Rwandan national who had come to Uganda for studies.

Mr Kenneth Tindyebwa, a technical tracking officer attached to Rwambomu Security Service Company which police approached to track the kidnaper, said that the suspect had four different phone numbers he used to demand for a ransom.

He added that he used a GPS and call data print-outs to track him in Nyamabare Shuuku, Sheema where he was hiding after killing the child and the police managed to arrest him.

The Rwizi regional Police spokesperson Samson Kasasira, confirmed the incident saying that the suspect has been arrested and will soon be arraigned in court to face murder charges.

The deceased’s body was taken to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital mortuary for post mortem.

How he was kidnapped
Muhairwe had reportedly gone to the market with his uncle, Mitrine Mujuni on February 4, 2019 to buy some stuff. After shopping, Mr Mujuni gave his nephew money and asked him to go home. The boy, however, never got home which prompted Mujuni to report to police.