The Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) has rescued a 14-year-old girl who had been missing for the past five years.
According to police spokesperson Fred Enanga, the victim, identified as Bethany Ndimurugi, went missing at the age of nine in April 2018 from Asili Memorial Nursery and Primary School when she was in Primary Four. The father, Tadeo Ruzinda Ntare reported a case of a missing child.
Investigations revealed that Ndimurugi had been taken by her biological mother, Mercy Kilande, who had relocated to South Africa after separating from her father.
“We established that the mother returned to South Africa but left the victim hidden with a relative at an unknown location. A serious search for the girl finally yielded results nearly five years later when she was located on September 22 at the home of Phiona Rukundo in Manyangwa village, Gayaza, in Wakiso district,” Enanga told journalists during the weekly press briefing at the police headquarters.
Enanga stated that efforts were underway to obtain statements from both the mother and the father.
However, Enanga clarified that the police had not yet handed the girl over to her father.
“We are currently ensuring her safety in one of the shelter homes where she is receiving welfare support, counselling, and child management,” he said.