Police in Jinja are holding a 38-year-old Faridah Namugera, resident of Buwagi village Budondo sub county Jinja district for reportedly faking her own kidnap in an attempt to get money to clear debts.
The contraversial development came to light on January 3, 2024 when Namugera’s husband identified as Michael Ngobi, 41, reported a case of kidnap at Budondo police station. Ngobi claimed that his wife was kidnapped on her way to Budondo Health Center IV for antenatal services.
According to police, the husband explained the movements of the alleged abductors using a motor vehicle (Noah) that they passed via Amber-court, joining Jinja-Iganga highway and drove off up to a place called Jami in Budaka district.
SP James Mubi the Kiira region police spokesperson informed this publication that Police swiftly responded to the matter, using flying squad and senior trackers whose GPS coordinates indicated that Faridah Namugera was within Namulesa, a Jinja city suburb.
The alleged kidnappers were demanding for a ransom of UGX2 million using her phone number which caused panic among family members who mobilized and raised UGX1.43 million which was deposited to her mobile money account.
It is said that right from the time of her alleged kidnap on January 3, the woman was hiding from her friend’s home in Namulesa, boozing beers and eating pork.
“On Friday, police found Faridah at a friend’s place in Namulesa boozing beers and eating pork,” said Mubi.
During police hard interrogations, Namugera admitted that she faked her own kidnap together with the husband to get school fees for their four children. She added that the family is grappling with a debt of two million shillings since 2022.
Mubi confirmed that the couple was apprehended and detained at Buwenge police station in Jinja district and charged with giving police false information.
“They have caused unnecessary panic, suspicion in Budondo in Jinja district for falsely reporting a crime that didn’t occur. They have disturbed police that have worked day and night to recover the alleged victim and possible arrest of the culprits,” added Mubi.
