Gunmen in Uganda abducted an American tourist and his driver inside a national park close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, government spokesman Ofwono Opondo said Wednesday.
“Four armed men, not yet identified, between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm (1400-1600GMT), staged an ambush and kidnapped an American tourist with his Ugandan driver near Katoke Gate in the Queen Elizabeth National Park,” Opondo said in a statement.
The two have been identified as Kimberly Sue Endecott, 35 and her driver Jean Paul
“A joint operation by the Uganda police, Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and Uganda Wildlife Authority Game Wardens is underway to locate and rescue them,” Opondo added.
“The priority at this point is to locate, rescue and bring them back to safely.”
Four other tourists, who were not abducted or physically harmed, managed to raise the alarm from the lodge where they were staying.
“We strongly believe the perpetrators and the victims could still be trapped within our search area and we are hopeful that our efforts will lead to their successful recovery,” the police statement added
There are fears that the kidnappers could have crossed with the pair into the DR Congo.
Police suspect ransom could be the motive behind the kidnapping.
Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of the East African nation’s most famous wildlife reserves, runs along the frontier with conflict-wracked regions of DR Congo, bordering its famous Virunga national park, Africa’s oldest national park.
