Hoima bricklayer nabbed for faking kidnap
"Staging a fake kidnap to extort money from relatives is a criminal act that wastes police resources and causes unnecessary panic,"Hakiza says.
Hoima: Police in Hoima District have arrested a 20-year-old man for allegedly staging his own kidnap in a bid to extort money from his family.
The suspect, Ian Ajuna, a resident of Kikerenge Village in Buhanika Sub-county, is accused of orchestrating a fake kidnapping and demanding a ransom of Shs2 million through phone calls made to his mother.
According to police, Ajuna allegedly called his mother claiming that he had been abducted and that his captors had threatened to kill him if the ransom was not paid within the stipulated time.
Investigations indicate that Ajuna connived with his cousin, Johnbosco Tumukunde, a resident of Kinogozi Trading Centre in Kikuube District, to stage the alleged kidnap. Tumukunde was also arrested to assist police with investigations.
SP Julius Allan Hakiza, the Albertine South Regional Police Public Relations Officer said the incident was reported on June 23, 2026, after Ajuna’s mother received a call from unknown individuals claiming they had kidnapped her son and demanding the ransom.
Hakiza said detectives from the Albertine Regional Police immediately launched an operation that led them to Tumukunde’s home in Kinogozi, where Ajuna was found hiding.
Subsequent investigations established that the alleged kidnapping had been staged, although police say the motive behind the incident is still under investigation.
Hakiza condemned the growing trend of self-kidnapping schemes aimed at extorting money from relatives, warning that such acts are criminal offences that will be prosecuted.
“Staging a fake kidnap to extort money from relatives is a criminal act that wastes police resources and causes unnecessary panic among families and communities. We urge young people to seek lawful means of earning a living instead of engaging in criminal activities,“ Hakiza said.
Both suspects remain in police custody and are expected to be arraigned in court upon completion of investigations.
Do you have an advertisement or article you want to publish? Mail us at theugreports@gmail.com or WhatsApp +256757022363.
