Authorities have detained a maid and her partner on suspicion of plotting to abduct a three-year-old child. The incident occurred in the Luwafu Zone of Makindye Division, Kampala District.
The individuals involved have been identified as 21-year-old Kansiime Mary, the maid, and 25-year-old Policarpe Bulambo, a Congolese national residing in Nakinyuguzi Zone, Luwafu Parish.
They were apprehended alongside two additional accomplices.
According to Deputy Kampala Metropolitan spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire, the incident was reported on September 28, 2024, by Jean Byakagaba Jean-Claude, a 36-year-old Congolese refugee and businessman.
Reports indicate that around noon on the day of the incident, Byakagaba and his wife left their home, leaving their three-year-old daughter, Jane Kasemire, and Kansiime, the maid, behind.
Owoyesigyire noted that attempts to contact the maid via phone by the parents were unsuccessful.
However, at approximately 9:00pm, Byakagaba received a call from an unknown person using the maid’s phone, who claimed to have both the child and the maid in Sudan and demanded a ransom of shs20 million.
This prompted Byakagaba to file a report at 10:29pm, leading the police to register the case and launch an investigation, which resulted in the arrest of the couple.
Investigations revealed that Kansiime, who had been employed by the family for about ten months, conspired with her boyfriend, Bulambo, to orchestrate the kidnapping.
The police successfully apprehended two individuals along with two additional accomplices through their tracking efforts.
“The child, Kasemire Jane, was safely recovered, medically examined, and returned to her parents,” he added.
The suspects are currently in police custody as investigations continue, according to Owoyesigyire.
The Kampala Metropolitan Police urges the public to remain vigilant and conduct comprehensive background checks when employing domestic workers to avoid such incidences.
“We also urge the public to promptly report similar incidents to the police for swift action and investigations,” he added.
