Shocking! How 18yr Old Congolese Kidnapped 2yr Old Child In Mengo & Demanded Shs30M Ransom

By Our Reporter

An 18-year-old Congolese national has been arrested following a dramatic joint operation by Uganda’s Crime Intelligence and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), after allegedly abducting a two-year-old boy from Mengo and demanding a ransom of Shs30 million.

The suspect, identified as Amani Justa from Ruchuru District in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is accused of kidnapping Ivan Benti, the son of Margret Bangurize, for whom he worked as a cleaner at a salon along Musajja-Alubwa Road in Mengo, Kampala.

The incident occurred last Thursday evening at around 7:00 PM. According to police, the child was held captive for five days in various locations, including Nyakabande Refugee Camp in Kisoro District, while the suspect issued ransom demands to the family.

“I searched for my child all night without success,” Bangurize told police. “The next morning, a man approached me and gave me a phone number, saying someone wanted to speak with me. When I called, Justa claimed he was holding my child and demanded Shs30 million.”

Bizarre Ransom Demands & Swift Arrest

As the days went by, the suspect reportedly kept reducing the ransom demands—from Shs30 million to Shs25 million, then to Shs20 million, and eventually down to Shs5 million. In an unusual twist, he later asked for just Shs20,000, allegedly to buy food.

“This behavior was both erratic and disturbing,” said Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire. “Upon tracing the calls and gathering intelligence, we were able to track and arrest the suspect.”

The suspect, who had crossed back into DRC, was apprehended and later extradited to Uganda, where he led security officers to the refugee camp in Kisoro. The child was found unharmed and has since been reunited with his family at Kampala Central Police Station, where the suspect is also being held.

Police commended the parents for acting swiftly, and the coordinated efforts of the security forces that ensured the child’s safe recovery. However, they cautioned the public against engaging directly with kidnappers in such high-risk situations.

“We urge the public to always involve police in any suspected kidnapping cases instead of negotiating with the perpetrators,” Owoyesigyire warned. “Nevertheless, we thank the parents for reporting quickly and security agencies for their fast response in rescuing the minor.”

Investigations into the suspect’s background and possible accomplices are ongoing.