Reports in indicate that Kimberly Sue Endicott, an American who was kidnapped for ransom last week in Queen Elizabeth National Park, has been released safely along with her guide Jean Paul Mirenge.
According to US website ABC7.com, “the release came after a ransom was paid and a negotiated handover was conducted. The two kidnap victims returned to a lodge at Queen Elizabeth National Park on Sunday, according to a spokesperson for Wild Frontiers Uganda
The victims of last week’s kidnapping have been recovered alive, said police spokeswoman Polly Namaye later.
Government spokesman Ofwono Opondo confirmed the development, tweeting that the tourist was actually rescued from the DRC. “#Kidnappedtourists Rescued alive from the DRC and brought back safely to #TheWildfrontiersLodge in Uganda.
We want to thank the joint Uganda security forces for the successful operation, he tweeted.
Ugandan security forces have for the past week scoured dense bush between the park and neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in the hunt for the US tourist and her safari guide who were kidnapped by gunmen.
Mike Walker, manager of Wild Frontiers Safaris, said US tourist Kimberly Endicott and experienced guide Jean-Paul Mirenge, were back safe.
Ransom paid and people exchanged, adding that he didn’t know the precise amount yet.
US President Donald Trump, in a tweet, confirmed the news of Endicott’s released.
Pleased to report that the American tourist and tour guide that were abducted in Uganda have been released. God bless them and their families! Trump tweeted
Four kidnappers stopped a group of tourists at gunpoint around dusk on Tuesday as they drove through the Queen Elizabeth National Park on safari to see wild animals.
Police later identified the American as 35-year-old Endicott, and said the kidnappers had later used her mobile telephone to demand a ransom of $500,000 (445,000 euros) for the release of the pair.
Another held was driver and tour guide Mirenge, a 48-year old safari guide with years of experience.
The gunmen dragged the pair from their safari vehicle, but left behind two other tourists, whom police described as an elderly couple. They managed to raise the alarm from the lodge where they were staying.
Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of the East African nation’s most popular wildlife reserves, runs along the frontier with conflict-wracked regions of DR Congo, bordering its famous Virunga national park, the oldest in Africa.
Two other tourists, whom police described as an elderly couple, were present when the gunmen attacked, but were not abducted or physically harmed. They managed to raise the alarm from the lodge where they were staying.
Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of the East African nation’s most famous wildlife reserves, runs along the frontier with conflict-wracked regions of DR Congo, bordering its famous Virunga national park, the oldest in Africa.
Numerous militia groups and armed gangs roam eastern DR Congo. Virunga suspended all tourism activities last year after a ranger was killed and two British tourists kidnapped. The Britons and their driver were freed two days after the attack. The park reopened in February.
The Ugandan park straddles the equator, covering 1,978 square kilometres (764 square miles) in the country’s south west.
It is also about 150 kilometres (90 miles) north of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, famous among tourists for gorilla trekking. Uganda is home to over half of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas.
In 1999, Rwandan rebels killed eight foreign tourists there, inflicting an enormous blow to Uganda’s tourist industry.
Tourism is a key industry for Uganda, as a major earner of foreign currency. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit each year.
Army spokesman, Brigadier Richard Karemire, insisted the kidnapping was an isolated incident and that Uganda remains safe for tourists.
Tourism Minister Professor Ephraim Kamuntu has confessed that the kidnap of an American tourist and a Ugandan tour guide was a result of a security lapse by officials of the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Kimberly Sue Endicott and her Ugandan tour guide Jean Paul Mirenge were last Tuesday kidnapped at gunpoint during an evening drive on Edward track between Katooke gate and Wilderness Camp in Kanungu district. Their captors demanded a $500,000 (1.8 billion Shillings) ransom.
The two were released on Sunday evening after what the Ugandan government describes as a joint rescue operation by its security agencies.
In a brief to the media in Masaka, Minister Kamuntu said that the kidnap from Queen Elizabeth National Park was due to a management lapse by the Uganda Wildlife Authority-UWA rangers who he says failed to guide the tourists on the appropriate times when such drives are done.
According to Kamuntu, the tourists arrived at the National park late in the evening and accordingly convinced the guides to take a night tour which is against the practices of their operation.
He insisted that by allowing to relax their guidelines, the UWA guides unsuspectingly fell into a trap.
He described this as an isolated incident which should not bother prospective tourists to the country.
Kamuntu has also pleaded with both local and international tourists not to be scared by the incident, saying the national security agencies are ready to jointly provide them with the required security.
Sam Mwandha, the Executive Director of Uganda Wildlife Authority, says they have picked lessons from the incident, which are going to be translated into tasks to further improve the security in the national parks to guarantee the safety of the visitors.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police Martin Okoth Ochola was Monday due to hand over Kimberly to the US embassy in Nsambya.
A convoy of US Embassy vehicles and police directors among others Assistant Inspector General of Police-AIGP, Abbas Byakagaba and Police Chief Political Commissar, Asan Kasingye, arrived at the police headquarters soon after midday.
The convoy parked outside the IGP's wing where Kimberly accompanied by three other officials from the US Embassy proceeded to IGP's office for a meeting.Thereafter the convoy headed to the US Embassy.
Sources at police headquarters said among those waiting to receive Kimberly is an elderly couple, Martin Julius and his wife Barbel who were left stranded in Queen Elizabeth National Park when the kidnappers varnished with keys of the vehicle, which the group was using.
Earlier, Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga denied claims that the kidnappers released Kimbley after receiving ransom from his family.
As police we don't give ransom and if ransom was paid to kidnappers that can be clarified by his family, Enanga said.
Sources said Kimberly's kidnappers received US $30,000 about Shillings 100m. According to sources, after receiving the money, the kidnappers called Wild Frontiers Safaris Uganda and directed its workers where to find Kimberly and Remezo.
However, Enanga insisted that kidnappers released the victims after elite forces resolved to attack their hideout.
Tourism Observer
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