Woman arrested for kidnapping co-wife’s 5-year-old girl in Kibaale

26 March 2025, 10:47 am

By Kato Joseph

Police in Kibaale district have arrested a 30-year-old woman who allegedly kidnapped her co-wife’s 5-year-old daughter from Matale sub county.

Omuhereza Annet Mujuni Kengozi, a mobile money and MTN SIM card registration agent operating in Kiryanjagi trading centre in Kagadi district, is the suspect. She is the second wife of the child’s father, Deo Lubega, who is also an MTN SIM card registration agent operating in Kiryanjagi subcounty.

It is alleged that on Tuesday morning, Kengozi kidnapped the 5-year-old girl, a pupil at Holy Family Nursery and Primary School. The child is the daughter of Sarah Nabosa (co-wife) and a resident of Kikomangwa village in Matale sub county.

During interrogations at Kibaale Central Police Station, where she is currently detained, Kengozi stated that she had left 5 million shillings at home the previous day before going to work. However, upon returning that evening, she discovered the money had been stolen by her husband, Deo Lubega, who had gone into hiding.

Kengozi claims that this led her to kidnap the child as a way to pressure Lubega into returning her money.

Sarah Nabosa, the mother of the toddler, says her daughter was kidnapped this morning while heading to school. Attempts to pursue the suspect led to her being intercepted in Kagadi town at around 12pm.

Moses Kitamirike, the DPC of Kibaale, has confirmed the arrest of Kengozi on charges of child kidnapping, and investigations into the case have begun.