By VOM News Team
The Kisoro Deputy Resident District Commissioner Robert Tukamuhebwa has confirmed that the family of Moses Bakunzi Nizeyimana of Kanyacucu Village, Busengo Parish, Nyarubuye Sub County agreed to pay 2 Million Shillings to the Kidnappers of his 10-year-old son went missing more than 10 days ago.
The 2 Million Shillings is a part payment on a ransom demand of 8 Million shillings.
Tukamuhebwa said the family went ahead to pay the money using a Mobile money transaction to a mobile phone number after the kidnappers provided proof of life.
“The child spoke with his father on the phone for a few minutes and said he has been unharmed however he is experiencing too much suffering”, Tukamuhebwa said.
According to the Deputy RDC, attempts to track the number where the money was sent has been futile because the phones have been switched off after receiving the money.
Earlier attempts to track the phone by the Police had it pinging in Masisi, Democratic Republic of Congo however the Lead went cold soon afterwards.
Tukamuhebwa said the family is in a very difficult position and sympathized with their situation however refusing advice from security experts was not the best decision.
He said efforts to track the phones using GPS and other sophisticated methods is still on-going.
“We have engaged CMI, ISO, UPDF and the Uganda Police to assist us track the whereabouts of these criminal elements. We hope that the child will be recovered unharmed”, Tukamuhebwa explained.
Tukamuhebwa further called on all LCI chairpersons to start documenting casual laborers who come to work in Kisoro.
He noted that some come from Rwanda while others come from the Democratic Republic of Congo however little to no information is captured by the village leadership.
Irankunda John Mary, a primary three pupil at Kanyacucu Primary School, Busengo Parish, Nyarubuye was kidnapped by one Hakiza, a Congolese shepherd who was hired to take care of livestock at the home.
Moses Bakunzi Nizeyimana, a teacher at Nsungwe Primary School and father to the missing boy said the shepherd and his son had become good friends.
Nizeyimana says, he left for church with his wife and left his son home with one Hakiza. When they returned, the two of them were missing and have never returned to this day.
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