Stolen Baby Found Alive in Lyantonde, Suspected Kidnapper Arrested

A three-month-old baby stolen from his mother in Lyantonde district seven days ago has been found alive in Kyazanga town council in Lwengo district. This ends the week-long joint operation by Lyantonde and Lwengo police intelligence authorities to find the baby.  

Police has been hunting for Peace Nayebare since Saturday last week after stealing baby Elisa Wasike from his mother, Annet Nakawuka, a resident of Kaliiro B village in Lyantonde town council. Police arrested Nayebare from her hideout in Kyazanga on Sunday and rescued the baby. 

Muhammad Nsubuga, the Masaka Region Police Spokesperson, confirmed Nayebare’s arrest, saying the baby was in good health by the time police found him. Wasike has already been reunited with his mother sending the community members into hours of chanting with praises for the police for the good work. 

Nakawuka applauded police, media and all stakeholders that took part in the massive search for the baby.

//Cue in: “Sanyu lingi nyo…  

Cue out…eteeka akomererwe.”//  

Nayebare was Nakawuka's new neighbour who had spent just four days before she stole the baby. Nakawuka entrusted Nayebare to soothe Wasike while she attended to house chores. However, minutes after, Nayebare locked her room and vanished with the baby.

Nakawuka immediately informed fellow residents about the incident and reported the matter to the police for intervention. Police arrested three people suspected to have aided the suspect to escape with the baby.

    Kellen Namara, the Acting Lyantonde District Police Commander, appealed to all parents and guardians to be watchful of their children and not to trust any strangers to avoid similar incidents. Records at Lyantonde police station show that five children have been kidnapped in the last three years.

Two of them have been found alive while two were killed and their bodies dumped in different locations. One has never been traced. Intelligence authorities suspect that Nayebare is a member of a child-kidnapping racket operating in greater Masaka region, adding that investigations are still going on to get to the top of the matter.