Police in Nateete have arrested a mother and her eldest daughter for orchestrating a fake kidnapping in a scheme to extort money from the child’s father. The seven-year-old victim, who was reported missing on January 26, 2025, was safely rescued during a police operation.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango, the father of the child alerted authorities after receiving a ransom demand of Shs5 million from unknown callers. Investigators swiftly launched an operation to track the suspects and rescue the child.
The breakthrough came when intelligence officers traced the location of the ransom calls to Kasenge Nakawuka, near the victim’s home. During surveillance, they intercepted a phone call in which the distressed child was allowed to speak with her father, crying and pleading for help.
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However, as the investigation deepened, police uncovered a shocking truth—the alleged kidnappers were none other than the child’s own mother, Teo Nagadya, and her 20-year-old sister, Winnie Namukwaya. The duo had staged the abduction in an attempt to extort money from the girl’s father.
Use of AI to Manipulate Ransom Calls
To make the scheme more convincing, Nagadya and Namukwaya used artificial intelligence (AI) technology to disguise their voices, making it appear as though a male kidnapper was behind the ransom calls.
Following a search near Nagadya’s workplace, police located the child, who was unharmed. A Tecno phone containing the SIM card used to demand the ransom was also recovered.
Arrests and Legal Implications
Both Nagadya and Namukwaya were taken into custody and are facing charges related to the staged kidnapping. Authorities are also pursuing the individual who provided the registered SIM card used in the crime.
“This operation was carried out successfully without any casualties. The suspects will be prosecuted, and further investigations are ongoing,” Onyango confirmed.
The case has raised concerns over the misuse of AI in criminal activities, with authorities warning the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behavior.
Potential Legal Consequences
Under the Penal Code Act, Cap 120, Section 243A, kidnapping or detaining a person for ransom carries the death penalty upon conviction, regardless of whether the victim was harmed. In cases of general kidnapping without ransom demands, the penalty can be up to 10 years in prison.
Given the nature of this case, where a child was falsely kidnapped for extortion, the suspects could face severe legal consequences, possibly including a death sentence, depending on the court’s ruling.
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