Police have confirmed the arrest of a 17-year-old Congolese national involved in the kidnapping of a child from Kampala, who was later rescued from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in a coordinated security operation.
According to Police Spokesperson SCP Kituuma Rusoke, the child was abducted on Monday, July 21, 2025, along Musajja Alumbwa Road in Mengo.
“Monday last week on 21st July 2025, a child was abducted from Musajja Alumbwa Road in Mengo by kidnappers,” said Rusoke. “Our intelligence officers managed to track down the perpetrators as they crossed into the Democratic Republic of Congo.”
The kidnappers reportedly demanded a ransom of 30 million Ugandan shillings from the victim’s family.
“With the assistance of the UPDF, the kidnapper was apprehended, and the child successfully rescued from DRC. The suspects are currently in custody,” Rusoke confirmed.
One of the suspects has been identified as Amani Jasteri, a 17-year-old male from Mujore Village, Bunagana Parish, Jomba Subcounty, Rucuru District in eastern DRC.
Police have launched further investigations into the kidnapping, and the suspects are expected to face charges including child abduction and attempted extortion.