How foreign missionary volunteer staged own kidnap in Uganda over USD20, 000

By Francis Otucu

Territorial Police in Greater Masaka, have in custody, a Liberian National and an accomplice, arrested for staging a fake kidnap.  The matter had been reported to police, by Walter Chatora, 54, a National Mission President.

The Church of Jesus Christ had earlier in a statement indicated how Linerian Taulus Zanto, aged 20, working as a Missionary volunteer in Nyendo, Masaka district, had been kidnapped by unknown persons from his residence on January 1, 2020 at around 11pm.

Eventually, the alleged kidnappers started demanding for a ransom of USD20.000 for his release, lest he would get killed.

However, the police task team was quickly alerted and a search operation located the victim at a hideout in Nyendo Masaka district, where it was established to be a false story, but a plot to get quick money.  He had conspired with an accomplice John Makumbi, a former workmate, who was actually pretending to be his abductor and was using a phone to demand for ransom.

According to Police spokesman Fred Enanga, the suspects are being charged with conspiracy, giving false information and demanding by menaces.