On 18th September 2017, Gerald ashaba was kidnapped by men dressed in Police uniform as he was fueling his car at a petrol station in Kibuli in Kampala. "Suddenly three men from a Mark II came with two policemen armed with these SMGs but one was in police uniform, others were in plain clothes. They came, they were from Kabalagala Police Station and they were claiming that they had an arrest warrant; that he was accused of killing Kagezi.” Said, Christine ashaba – Wife of Kidnapped Accountant. Three million Uganda shillings was taken from him and the kidnappers went ahead to demand 100,000 US dollars. “The first time they kidnapped him, the kidnappers told my husband that you man where is Obei? Obei has relatives, he has a wife, why is he trusting you more than his family? Then he told them that because he has been faithful to him for 16 years. Then, they said no, there must be a reason behind it. Maybe he left you with sacks of money which we want to know. Even at first they were saying that they take him home to search our house because they thought he had money at home.” Said, Christine Yashaba – Wife of Kidnapped Accountant.
The kidnappers were later arrested after an operation mounted by Police’s flying squad. The kidnappers’ case is now before the High Court in Kampala. This time around, ashaba was abducted by armed men just outside Best Price Supermarket in Namuwongo. “When he was from parking to join the road to our home, a double cabin blue in color came and blocked him. They were using pistols, big guns, they broke the car, they pulled him out of the car and they took him, up to now we have not seen him.” “It’s just very unfortunate; my father has been missing for two days, no one knows where he is and the Police are involved, I don’t know how? But I know it is because the people who took my daddy were with the Police.” Said, Patience ashaba – Daughter of kidnapped Accountant. “And the vehicle which arrested him UAZ 801Y, people said that it was always seen at CPS.” Said, Godwin, Lutalo – Brother-in-law to kidnapped Accountant.
No ransom has been demanded yet by the kidnappers since the incidence at Namuwongo. However, Gerald ashaba's wife Christine believes that the men who have kidnapped her husband are working closely with those who were arrested after the first attempt and are currently in Court. “Me, what I was requesting to the President; Mr. President Museveni, I have been supporting you all my life I started voting, I am requesting if you can help us and check security. Your security of these days is like that of Amin; we used to see those things happening in Amin’s regime because people told me the way those people caught my husband. A civilian you come with big guns which in fact I have never seen them.”
However, Brig. Richard Karemire has confirmed that ashaba is in custody of a security agency but Karemire was unclear which agency and for what crime he has been arrested. “Mr. Gerald ashaba is in the hands of security forces, he is being held and investigations are still continuing. His family has met with us and we have assured them that Mr. Gerald is in good shape and they will be able to see him. As far as I know, there is no specific charge that has been leveled against him.” Said, Brig. Richard Karemire – UPDF Spokesperson. Gerald ashaba's kidnap continues to raise more questions than answers not only in relation to the exact whereabouts but to the apparent increasing abductions and other violent crimes in Uganda over the last few months.
