US president, Donald Trump has Monday, April 8, tasked Ugandan authorities to find ‘the kidnappers of the American Tourist and guide’.
‘‘Bring them to justice openly and quickly!” the president tweeted on Monday, adding that it is the only way ‘people will feel safe going there’.
Uganda’s president, Yoweri Museveni had earlier reassured tourists that ‘Uganda is safe’, describing last week’s kidnappers as ‘isolated packets of criminals’.
A tweet from his office noted that tourists should come and enjoy the beauty of the Pearl of Africa.
“Last evening, security officials briefed me about the rescue of American tourist Kimberly Sue and her Ugandan guide, Jean Paul Mirenge, who had been kidnapped by criminals in Queen Elizabeth National Park,” Mr. Museveni wrote adding that, “We shall deal with these isolated pockets of criminals.”
Uganda Police also issued a statement on Monday, reassuring visitors to Uganda of safety, while at the same time sharing the latest updates on the hunt for the criminals.
‘‘The operation to arrest the culprits is ongoing with the close coordination of our counterparts from the DRC, whom we have been working with for the last 5 days,’‘ read part of the police statement.
The statement did not address the reports that a ransom was paid to secure the release of the victims, rather explaining that ‘specific details on how the rescue mission’ cannot be released for tactical reasons.
‘‘The victim who had been held captive together with her safari guide, Jean Paul Mirenge, were released because of the implicit threat of the use of force, after the armed captors, knew they were being pursued.”
Ms. Kimberly Sue Endicott, of California, was kidnapped Tuesday evening while on a game drive in Queen Elizabeth national park in western part of Uganda.
Also taken was her Ugandan guide, Mr. Jean-Paul Mirenge Remezo.
Mr. Paul Goldring of Wild Frontiers, left, with Jean-Paul Mirenge Remezo, the guide who was kidnapped.
The park, home to more than 600 bird species and some 2,500 elephants, is generally regarded as safe for tourists.
A group of gunmen stopped the tourists’ vehicle and seized the American woman and the guide.
The gunmen left behind the two other tourists, who were described by the Ugandan police as an elderly Canadian couple.
The revelation has since watered claims by Ugandan authorities that a joint operation by security forces rescued the Ms. Endicott and Jean-Paul.
“Both were rescued from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and are safely back in Kanungu district in Uganda,” claimed government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo before Wild Frontiers described his statement as false.
