The Police Crime Intelligence Directorate has successfully rescued a two-year-old boy who was kidnapped from a salon in Kampala and smuggled into the a refugee camp near Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where his captor demanded a ransom of Shs30 million.
The child, identified as Ivan Benti, was abducted on the evening of July 21, 2025, from his mother’s workplace—a salon along Musajja Alumbwa Road in Kampala. According to the mother, Margaret Yanguruje, the child disappeared around 7pm while she was attending to clients.
“We went with the child as always to work at the salon. At around 7pm, he went missing, and our efforts to trace him proved futile,” Yanguruje told Nile Post.
The next day, an unidentified man visited the salon and gave her a phone number, claiming someone wanted to speak to her. When she called, the voice on the other end confirmed he had taken her child and issued a ransom demand of Shs30 million.
“After negotiating, he lowered the amount to Shs20 million, and later Shs5 million,” Yanguruje said. “That’s when I involved the police to help trace the suspect.”
What followed was a swift and coordinated intelligence operation. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, explained that operatives from the Police Crime Intelligence Directorate tracked the suspect’s movement across the border into DRC.
“Our intelligence teams, with support from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) under Operation Shujaa, located the suspect and safely rescued the child,” Owoyesigyire said.
Investigations revealed that the suspect was 17-year-old Amani Jasteri, a cleaner at the same salon and a familiar face to the child.
He reportedly fled with the boy to Nyakabande refugee settlement in Kisoro District, leaving him under the care of other refugees before continuing into DRC.
From DRC, he started demanding for shs30 million ransom from the victim's parents.
Using digital forensics, investigators tracked the ransom call to a location inside Congo, prompting collaboration with UPDF units stationed across the border. The suspect was later arrested and the child safely recovered.
On Monday, the boy was officially handed over to his mother at police headquarters, prompting emotional scenes.
“I thought my son had been killed. When police told me they had rescued him, I couldn’t believe it. I have nothing to give but my deepest thanks to the officers,” Yanguruje said, tearfully kneeling in gratitude.
Police have since issued a public appeal for vigilance, especially when unknown individuals suddenly appear with young children.
“If someone you know has never had a child and suddenly brings one home, ask questions. If their explanations don’t add up, report to the nearest police station,” Owoyesigyire advised.
He applauded both the victim’s family for reporting promptly and the officers who led the successful cross-border operation.
The case underscores the growing sophistication of Uganda’s crime intelligence apparatus and the importance of swift community reporting in tackling child-related crimes.
