The search for American tourist in Uganda is over after she was resced alongside tour guide..
A joint team of security personnel have rescued Jean-Paul Mirenge Remezo and Kimberly Sue Endecot.
Mirenge is a senior tour guide with Wild Frontiers Uganda while Endecott is a 35-year-old American tourist.
The two were abducted during a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park by four gun wielding men on Tuesday.
Martin Julius and his wife Barbel, the two other tourists in the company of Mirenge and Endecott were left in the wild before the abductors fled with their colleague and tour guide.
Upon abduction, the kidnappers, using Endecott’s phone demanded Ksh 50 million. According to police, ransom was the reason behind the kidnap.
On Sunday however, a statement linked to Uganda police stated that Mirenge, a Ugandan born Congolese and Endecott were safe.
“The rescue of kidnapped tourist and driver guide is complete. Both captives back in safe hands under the safety of the Uganda police. Details will be given later,” a source with the Uganda Police told Watchdog Uganda.
The statement was parroted by Ephraim Kamuntu, the Tourism Minister during a hastily arranged presser on Sunday evening.
“We have Miss Sue. She is safe. She is secure. The driver Jean Paul is safe and secure and unharmed. However, as result of rescuing these there two, there are consequential matters that we might not discuss at this material point,” the minister said.
The rescue of Mirenge and Endecott is a positive to the tourism industry especially after Uganda Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Lilly Ajarova called on tourists, local and international, to continue visiting the Park.