Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga, has said the inspector general of police (IGP) Martin Okoth Ochola is set to hand over Ms. Kimberley Sue Endicott, the American tourist who was rescued yesterday, to the U.S. Ambassador to Uganda Deborah Malac, at the American Embassy in Kampala.
Ms Kimbley and his drive, a senior game guide identified as Jean Paul Milenge Romezo were last week kidnapped by four unknown gunmen who staged an ambush at Katoke gate in Queen Elizabeth national park.
According to Mr. Enanga, the gunmen used the victim’s cellphone to demand a ransom of US $500,000, equivalent to Shs 1.85 billion police.
Speaking at police headquarters earlier in this morning, Enanga said the victim had been held captive however they were released because of the implicit threat of the use of force, after the armed captors, knew they were being pursued.
“At this stage we cannot provide specific details on how the rescue mission was accomplished, for future operational security and tactical reasons,” he said
He said 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 five days.
“We want to reassure all our citizens and visitors, that their safety and security is our number one priority. The successful recovery of the captives, serves as a reminder to those enemies who want to harm our own people including visitor’s, that we will do everything possible within our means to defend them,” he said.
“We wish both, Ms. Kimberley Sue Endicott and her safari guide, Jean Paul Milenge, a happy reunion with their families, as we continue to appraise the kidnap and rescue operation, to ensure such an occurrence does not happen again,” he concluded.
