Police role under scanner for facilitating payment of Shs4m ransom
The kidnapping of a six year old daughter of a Kampala businessman by an unidentified gang has raised questions on safety of children and role of Police in the whole episode. Ms Nicole Mitala who went missing from Green Hill Academy, Buwaate campus on Tuesday evening was released after two days allegedly after father of the girl paid ransom of Shs 4million in four instalments.
The Police which was in touch with the family initially denied the ransom was paid before coming clean on Thursday evening and the its operatives have failed to effect the arrest of the kidnappers. Police and the family however say they suspect it was a racket of about four to five people given the fact that several contacts were made to different people in a very short period.
Police Flying Squad Commandant Hebert Muhangi, who coordinated the hunt for the suspected kidnappers, confirmed they had arrested only one female who was only identified as Amina whom they tricked into using mobile money to receive the ransom money.
Samuel Kiggundu, Nicole’s uncle said her father had paid the ransom, other family members who preferred not to be named due to the sensitivity of them matter said police remained a mute spectator.
Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson Paul Kangave claimed that kidnappers released the girl under police pressure.
Kangave said that they are on the job to nab the culprits. The police was asked by the family of the girl to stay away due to safety of the girl.
Her kidnap was the second a week’s period, following the case of Stephen Mugambe, a child from Kawaala who was kidnapped by unknown people on his way to school.
