Trump to Uganda; You must find Queen Elizabeth tourist kidnappers
US President Donald Trump has asked Ugandan authorities to ensure the kidnappers of an American tourist and her guide are found and brought to book.
American tourist, Kimberly Sue Endicott and her driver, Jean Paul Milenge from Wildfrontiers who were kidnapped on Tuesday at Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park and were on Sunday found alive by Ugandan security.
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However, in a tweet, on Monday afternoon Trump asked authorities in Uganda to ensure the kidnappers are arrested and arraigned before courts of law.
“Uganda must find the kidnappers of the American Tourist and guide before people will feel safe in going there. Bring them to justice openly and quickly,” Trump said in tweet.
The kidnappers had requested for a $500,000(shs1.8billion) ransom but reports indicated that Kimberly’s family negotiated with the kidnappers before sending the ransom money through the tour company before the duo was released.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1115228307426095105
Quoting unnamed sources, the New York Times and ABC News said a ransom had been paid before the duo was released by the kidnappers.
Trump said by finding the kidnappers, tourists will feel safe while visiting the national park and Uganda at large.
Addressing a weekly press briefing, Police spokesperson Fred Enanga denied there was any money paid to the kidnappers as is being alleged by many.
“No ransom was paid to anyone. Police and the Ugandan government didn’t give anyone ransom because it is not our policy. If you think we are telling lies, you should ask the US embassy,”Enanga told journalists at police headquarters in Naguru.
On Sunday, the Tourism minister, Ephraim Kamuntu praised security for the job weldone in finding and rescuing the duo.
“The capacity of Ugandan security, know -how and strength enabled them to be rescued safe and sound.”
However, when asked about the whereabouts of the kidnappers, the minister could not divulge more information saying details would be shared later.
“We shall not do it until time is appropriate and those details will be given.”
However, Trump’s latest comments indicate the hostages were handed over to security by kidnappers after receiving ransom.
President Museveni on Monday assured tourists that the country is safe, despite the small incident.
“We shall deal with these isolated pockets of criminals. However, I want to reassure the country and our tourists that Uganda is safe and we shall continue to improve the security in our parks. Come and enjoy the Pearl of Africa,” Museveni said.
Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of the East African nation’s most popular wildlife reserves, runs along the border with conflict-wracked regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It borders the famous Virunga national park, the oldest in Africa.
Uganda received 1.8 million tourists in 2018 fetching $1.2billion (shs4.5 trillion), making tourist, the country’s biggest foreign exchange earner.
