By Swift Reporter
Police and other security agencies have rescued two children who were allegedly kidnapped in Buikwe District after their captors demanded a Shs100 million ransom from their family.
Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident, while a firearm suspected to have been used in criminal activities was also recovered during the operation.
The suspects are Dan Kasaija, whom investigators describe as an alleged commander of the group, alongside Richard Odongo and Derick Nkuruziza.
Police accuse Kasaija of playing a central role in the ransom operation, including receiving and withdrawing money in Kampala.
Police spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke said the arrests and recovery of the children followed a joint operation by security agencies on September 17, 2026.
The operation brought an end to a tense 10-day search that began on September 7, when two armed and masked men reportedly raided the home of Mr Mugabanya in Bujowali Zone, Njeru Municipality.
Mugabanya was away from home at the time of the attack, leaving his children under the care of domestic workers who were watching television with them.
According to police, the attackers injured the domestic workers after they raised an alarm before locking them inside a bedroom. The assailants then fled with the two children.
The kidnappers subsequently contacted the family and demanded Shs100 million in exchange for the children’s release.
Following the report, security teams launched investigations and began tracing the individuals believed to be behind the abduction.
Their efforts paid off on September 17 when the two children were located in Malindi Village, Wakisi Sub-county, Buikwe District.
Police said the children were found safe and were subsequently rescued by the security team.
The recovery of the children and arrest of the three suspects have also opened a wider investigation into a possible kidnapping network operating in the area.
According to police, investigators are examining the suspects’ possible links to other abduction cases, including the May 2026 kidnapping of a female school director in Njeru Municipality.
Security agencies are continuing to search for other people suspected to have participated in the criminal activities.
The three suspects remain in custody as investigations continue and are expected to be taken to court once the inquiries are completed.
Police have meanwhile urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to security authorities as investigations into the alleged kidnapping network continue.
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