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Ugandan Kidnappers

“Where the investigations lead us, we shall go,” he said, “Whether it is kidnap for ransom, kidnap for sacrifice, and self-kidnap, we are willing to investigate it to its conclusion.

“It is true, most of the cases are self-kidnaps but that should not divert us away from real cases,” he said.

But Paul Nyende, a senior lecturer of psychology at Makerere University told The Independent on May 28 that what is happening seems to be a “transformation of crime” with some people appearing to be following the kidnap models that are reported. He said, as psychologists, they call this “behavioural example.”

“There are people who will look at those kidnap experiences and try to make a living out of them,” he told The Independent, “Some people have decided to use this kidnap phenomenon as a behavioural example and have developed a business model that they are now using to extort money from others.”

Nyende told The Independent that the media could also be playing a role in fanning the recent spate in kidnappings across the country.

“The media tends to expose ordinary people to things that they don’t know,” he said and recommended limited exposure of nasty and detailed reports of crimes to the general public.

Nyende says while most kidnaps target rich families, it is noteworthy that Ugandan criminals are now asking for very small ransoms.

“They have brought it to their level so that it applies in their environment,” he said.

Nyende said poverty is a factor in crime because when people are poor and frustrated but also have an insatiable appetite to consume, they can also be drawn into criminal behaviour. He added, however, that such people need to be what psychologists call “problem personalities.”

“We can all be poor but there are those amongst us who would resort to crime; and probably it is what is happening at the moment,” he said.

“You also don’t have to kidnap yourself for someone to love you. You just have to develop skills in attracting affection; you just have to be lovable and affectionate yourself,” he added.

But James Makumbi, a software developer told The Independent on May 24 that Ugandans need to be ready for large scale phone and CCTV tracking if crimes related to phone use are to be stopped.

“If we want such tracking to happen, we need to close our eyes to large scale tracking and also brace ourselves for the abuse of such immense power and privilege,” he says.

He said based on the reactions of many people when the police and other government bodies proposed tracking of phones under the Regulation of Interception of Communications Act of 2010, no telephone network wanted to be known as an enthusiastic collaborator with police on phone tapping.

He said the telecoms also insist on maintaining separate databases but that is part of the problem. According to him, the situation around kidnaps would not have escalated if the telecom firms had reached an understanding on collaboration a few years ago when UTL, MTN and the police had an understanding that if one’s phone was stolen on either network and police were informed, one’s phone could be found easily if it joined the other network irrespective of the Simcard.

“A third network which was having growth problems refused to sign that memorandum of understanding because they did not want to chase away phone thieves who were buying their Simcards to use in stolen phones,” he said. Makumbi says there is need to find a balance if criminals who use phones are going to be caught.

Some cases of recent crimes

• March 31: Two brothers were arrested for allegedly kidnapping a four-year-old girl, RestyKahunde, a daughter of Beatrice Kahunde and Samuel Mugenyi.

• March 19: AramazanKibirige, of Kagoma in Nansana Municipality, Wakiso District, was kidnapped and killed when he was going to buy hardware items worth Shs73 million.

• March 24: Charity Kyohirwe, a resident of Masajja Parish in Makindye Division, was kidnapped and found killed after missing for a few days. Police said she was allegedly kidnapped and killed in a mission masterminded by her husband.

• April 5: Elizabeth Nakato is kidnapped and killed on April 5 by her relatives. Her body is found dumped in Matugga at the border of Wakiso and Luweero districts.

• April 14: Police arrest five people for allegedly kidnapping a two-year-old child in Kitezi, Wakiso District.

• April 27: Abel Katende is kidnapped from his Masuulita home and his body recovered.

• May 7: Businessman SaakaKafeero is kidnapped as he heads to Mukono Municipality to bank some money. He was killed.

• May 21: 27-year old woman, Grace Kyosimire, was arrested in Kampala for allegedly faking her own kidnap over accumulated debts.

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