Woman extorts Shs500,000 from relatives after camping at Kayanja’s church

Police have arrested Esther Nantege, who camped at Pastor Robert Kayanja’s Miracle Centre Cathedral in Rubaga and asked for Shs600,000 as ransom claiming that she was kidnapped.

Nantege is said to have left her family on February 28^th and went for prayers at Miracle Central where she spent three days.

According to police spokesperson Fred Enanga, Nantege packed her bag with some clothes and informed her relatives where she going.

However, the 29-year-old then called the relatives and informed them that ‘women in black clothes and masks had kidnapped her’ and that they needed only some little money to release her.

“Her relatives panicked and immediately managed to raise and send Shs500,000 using mobile money on her phone number. She later on surfaced from her hideout but her relatives were not well convinced by her story. They then decided to involve the police,” said Enanga on Monday.

Following interrogations at Natete Police Station, Police discovered that Nantege wanted starting capital of Shs600, 000 for a fish business but her relatives had ignored to help her so she decided to kidnap herself.

“When she confessed, we managed to retrieve the money she had asked from the relatives although she had used Shs50,000. The balance of Shs450,000 was returned to the relatives,” Enanga said, adding “This is wrong because it puts people on pressure and fear. But we also encourage relatives and parents to always adhere to the needs of their family members before they decide to go this way.”

According to police Nantege is going to be charged with demanding money by menace.

Self-kidnaps have emerged since last year following the abduction and eventual murder of Bwendero Dairy Farm (BDF) cashier Susan Magara.

Among these was Najjuma Gonza who hid in her boyfriend’s room and asked her parents Shs6m on allegations that she was kidnapped by strangers who threatened to kill her if they do not send the money. She was found preparing dinner.