Police in Mukono have arrested three witch doctors for allegedly kidnapping a 5-year-old girl and threatening to sacrifice her unless the parents raise Shs50m.
The Victim identified as Aidah Nantongo was kidnapped from her grandmother Babrah Galiwango's in Seeta trading center in Mukono municipality.
The arrested are Ashiraf Mugayirwa, 33, from Burehe in Kaliro District, Michael Gerald Ochwo of Kigaya in Buikwe District and Robert Sentongo, a resident of Nantabulriwa in Goma division, Mukono municipality. The suspects are said to have kept the girl for a week.
it is alleged that the duo waylayed the girl as she headed to her school Seeta SDA Primary School in the morning, they kidnapped and made off with the girl. By afternoon, Nantongo had not yet returned home which prompted Galiwango to check with the school.
On reaching the school, she was informed that Nantongo had not made it there in the morning, this prompted a frantic search for the five-year-old.
Galiwango then reported the matter to Mukono Police and an investigation ensued.
During the process, however, the kidnappers continuously called Galiwango and demanded ransom for her granddaughter. They asked for Shs50m up front.
Working on phone collaboration, the Police were able to track down the kidnappers, they were arrested and ordered to produce Nantongo, who was later found at a shrine in Kaliro District
Mugayirwa, one of the suspects said that the decision to kidnap Nantongo was made after several attempts to recover money owed to them by Galiwango in vain.
''We kidnapped the girl because she ( Galiwango) failed to pay us Shs2m we agreed to cleanse her garden which was possessed by the demons, our intention was to recover that money and we would hand back her girl without hurting her," Mugayirwa said.
However, Galiwango said that the men had been threatening to kill the girl and dump her in Lugazi.
The presidential envoy to Mukono Hajjat. Fatuma Ndisaba urged parents to be vigilant in protecting their children, especially during this long holiday, but also warned people to avoid acts of witchcraft.
Ndisaba lauded the police for tracking down these criminals and rescuing the innocent girl. The three are detained at Mukono police CPS as they wait to appear before court.