The police and sister security agencies are searching for two people who were kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC.
The duo has been identified as Ronald Niwamanya aged 18 and 15 year old Dan Tweheyo, residents of Nyabirehe village in Kihembe parish, Kanyantorogo Sub County, Kanungu district at the border with DRC.
Available reports indicate that Niwamanya and Tweheyo were kidnapped on Monday evening while in their father’s banana plantation after crossing a few kilometres from Kanyantorogo to Democratic Republic of Congo. They were working in the plantation with other workers.
According to Kenneth Tumuhamye, the Kantantorogo Sub County LCIII chairperson, many residents own land and gardens in DR Congo. He adds that three gunmen emerged from the nearby bush and put the seven people who were working in the banana plantation on gunpoint and tortured one of the casual labourers whose identities are yet to be established.
They are said to have first demanded the casual labourers to explain the whereabouts of guns they had hidden in the area, but when they continuously denied knowledge of the guns, they were tortured.
The kidnapped victims’ uncle Gad Mirimo, the gunmen used a Ugandan MTN number to call him demanding 11 million shillings as ransom to release the victims.
All family members are negotiating with gunmen to reduce on the price, but authorities have been involved. The Kanungu District Police Commander Julius Tugumenawe says that investigations into the matter are on-going.
