The murder of a 52-year-old woman after her alleged abduction has renewed concerns among police over a growing trend of kidnappings for ransom in and around Kampala.
The victim, Lydia Babirye Sengendo, was reportedly abducted on 4 June from Ntinda-Kigowa, a suburb of Kampala. Her body was later recovered from a residence in Kiteredde, Kakiri Town Council in Wakiso District.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire, the body was found wrapped in a mattress and tied with ropes at the home of the prime suspect, Kagga Shafiq.
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Investigations began after relatives reported Babirye missing at Old Kampala Police Station. Detectives later linked Shafiq and an alleged accomplice, Abubakar Ntege, to the case after the pair reportedly used the victim’s mobile phone to demand a ransom of Shs19 million from her family.
“Through investigative leads, detectives linked Kagga Shafiq and Ntege Abubakar to the kidnapping. During interrogation, Ntege led detectives to his residence in Kakiri, where the victim’s body was recovered. Investigators also found a freshly dug grave within the compound, likely intended for the burial of the victim,” Owoyesigyire said.
The case is the latest in a series of reported ransom-related kidnappings that have raised fears among residents in the Kampala metropolitan area.
In another recent incident, 25-year-old footballer Tonny Ssewakyiryanga from Kakiri Town Council was allegedly kidnapped and later killed after his captors demanded Shs5 million from his family.
Eric Kalule, the youth councillor for Kakiri Town Council and a friend of the deceased, said the footballer was abducted while returning home on the night of 3 May.
“The assailants searched the house for money but found none. They forced Ssewakyiryanga to call his father and demanded a five-million-shilling ransom.”
“When the father failed to raise the money and threatened to report the matter to the police, the kidnappers disappeared with him and switched off his phone. His body was later found mutilated,” Kalule said.
Police also recently rescued Mollete Komugisha, the wife of a school director in Njeru Municipality, after she was allegedly abducted from her home in Bujoweli Zone on 29 May.
A Flying Squad officer involved in several rescue operations said ransom demands remain a common feature in many kidnapping cases.
“The problem arises when kidnappers demand ransom and families manage to pay only part of it. In many cases, the suspects warn relatives against involving the police. When families fail to raise the full amount, they often turn to the police, and the kidnappers retaliate by killing the victims,” the officer said.
Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma has repeatedly advised families not to negotiate directly with kidnappers and instead report incidents immediately to law enforcement agencies.
According to Kituuma, police have the capacity to track suspects and increase the chances of rescuing victims safely.
Police statistics show that 206 kidnapping cases were recorded across Uganda in 2025, down from 245 cases in the previous year, representing a 15% decline.
Despite the reduction, authorities say kidnappings continue to be driven largely by financial motives, including ransom demands, debt-related disputes and attempts to access victims’ bank accounts and mobile money funds.
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