American tourist Kimberly Sue Endicott and Jean Paul Mirenge, a Ugandan senior tour guide/ driver, who were recently abducted by unknown gunmen at Queen Elizabeth National Park in Western Uganda, have been found alive, The Tower Post reports.
The Uganda Police Force has confirmed that the two have been found alive and in good health.
“Police & its sister security agencies have today rescued Ms.Kimberley Sue, an American tourist together with her guide who were kidnapped while on an evening game drive at Queen Elizabeth National park. The duo are in good health & in the safe hands of the joint security team,” Uganda Police confirmed via Twitter.
Police & its sister security agencies have today rescued Ms.Kimberley Sue, an American tourist together with her guide who were kidnapped while on an evening game drive at Queen Elizabeth National park.The duo are in good health & in the safe hands of the joint security team.
— Uganda Police Force (@PoliceUg) April 7, 2019
This website understands that the victims were returned to safety on Sunday (April 7th) in a negotiated handover after a ransom was paid to the Kidnappers.
Deputy Police spokesperson Polly Namaye in a statement on Wednesday revealed that the kidnappers using the Kimberly’s phone had demanded for a ransom of USD 500,000 (about Shs 1.8 billion).
What remains unknown for now is how much was paid to the kidnappers to rescue the duo and who paid the ransom.
The two were abducted on Tuesday (April 2nd, 2019) along Edward track, a section located between Katoke gate and Wildereness Camp in the park between 6-7pm.
The unknown gunmen put the four occupants of the tourist van under gun point and abducted two of them.
The tourists were travelling in a vehicle Reg no. UAR 777E belonging to World Frontiers Safaris Uganda, which was left parked as the kidnappers went away with its key.
Joint Security teams comprising of the Tourism Police, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers were dispatched to pursue the gunmen rescue the victims.
A number of people have via Social Media commended the security forces for successfully rescuing Kimberly Sue Endicott and Jean Paul Mirenge.
https://www.facebook.com/1497734893802626/posts/2285945761648198/