Police Rescue Kidnapped Nurse and Son in Mbarara After Four-Day Search

MBARARA, UGANDA — Police in Mbarara District, working together with sister security agencies, have rescued a nurse from Kashongi Health Centre III in Kiruhura District and her 14-year-old son, four days after they were allegedly abducted by unidentified assailants who demanded a UGX 10 million ransom for their release.

The victims have been identified as Agiripina Atwiine, 50, a nurse at Kashongi Health Centre III, and her son, Ndowoza Ssekatawa, 14.

According to police, the two went missing on 11 th May 2026, after leaving their home in Ihanika Cell, Nyanja Ward, Bukiiro Town Council in Mbarara District at around 7:30pm.

They were reportedly travelling to Kashongi Health Centre III in Kiruhura District, where Atwiine works.

Investigators say the mother and son boarded an unknown vehicle at Rutooma Trading Centre, heading towards Kashongi. However, concern arose later that night when Atwiine’s husband, Gwoloba Ssekatawa, 52, tried to contact her between 9pm and 10pm but found her phone switched off.

The following morning, May 12, Atwiine reportedly managed to call her father, Aaron Byesigwoha, informing him that she and her son had been abducted and were being held in a bush after being tied to a tree.

She further revealed that the kidnappers were demanding a ransom of UGX 10 million for their release.