Kakiri Man Kidnapped, Killed After UGX5M Ransom Demand Fails

Police in Wakiso District are hunting for the assailants who kidnapped and killed a 25-year-old tuk-tuk rider in Kakiri town after his family failed to pay a ransom of 5 million shillings to spare his life.

Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire has identified the deceased as Tonny Ssewakyiryanga, a 25-year-old tuk-tuk rider and resident of Kikubampanga Cell in Kakiri Town Council, Wakiso District, who was killed over the weekend.  

Eric Kalule, the Youth Councillor of Kakiri Town Council, close friend of the deceased, told Uganda Radio Network that Ssewakyiryanga was kidnapped on Saturday night at his doorstep while returning home. The kidnappers demanded 1.5 million shillings or kill the victim, but Ssewakyiryanga didn’t have the money.    

Kalule says the assailants went inside to search for money. When they found none, they forced Ssewakyiryanga to call his father demanding 5 million shillings in ransom, threatening to kill him. The father could not raise the money, and the kidnappers disappeared with Ssewakyiryanga. His phones were later switched off.     

“The assailants searched the house for money but found none. They forced Ssewakyiryanga to call his father, demanded a Shs5 million ransom. When the father failed to raise the money, he threatened to report the matter to the Police. That is when the kidnappers vanished with Ssewakyiryanga and switched off his phones. They later cut him into pieces.” Kalule narrated.

Kalule noted that while this kidnapping and murder is the first of its kind in the area, thugs have also been killing boda-boda riders and stealing their motorcycles. He called on security agencies to track down the assailants. 

Owoyesigyire said tracing the assailants led to the arrest of a suspect, identified as Ibrahim Magala, a builder. Police said the suspect was found with some exhibits, including the deceased’s phone.

“He was found with a phone suspected to belong to the deceased, a blood-stained jumper, and a knife,” Owoyesigyire added. “We can confirm the phone contained the SIM card that was used to call the deceased’s father. Other blood-stained exhibits have been taken to Naguru for forensic examination as the hunt for the other assailants continues.”   

The 2025 Police Annual Crime Report compiled by the Criminal Investigations directorate-CID indicated that 4,328 people were murdered about eleven per day through assault, mob action, strangulation, hacking, stabbing, beatings with blunt objects, domestic violence, shootings, poisoning, ritual sacrifices, and arson.