The Sexual and Gender Based Violence and Anti-Human Trafficking Departments of CID Headquarters, have recovered a child victim, who was picked by her mother, in April 2018, from a boarding school and hidden away from the father for the last 5 years. The facts gathered indicate that in April 2018, the girl victim, Nimurungi Bethany, aged 9, was picked from Asili Memorial Nursery and Primary School in primary 4, in Kabale district, by her biological mother, Kilande Mercy, who separated with her husband, Ruzindantaro Tadeo and thereafter went to South Africa.
The mother returned to South Africa, and left the victim, hidden with a relative at an unknown place. The victim had been picked, from the school without the knowledge and consent of her father. A serious search for the girl victim, yielded results, after almost 5 years, when the victim was traced and recovered on the 22.09.2023, at the home of her best friend Rukundo Phionah, in Manyangwa village in Gayaza-Wakiso district. The victim, who has been staying without her parents for the last 5 years, is now being kept in a shelter home.
A statement was recorded from the caretaker. Efforts are in place to record a statement from the mother of the victim, who is still in South Africa, and that of the disgruntled father, who has been searching for her missing daughter the last 5 years.
Both parents had no custody order or parenting arrangement after their separation. The case file will be forwarded to the DPP, for legal guidance, based on the specific circumstances of the case.
SCP Enanga Fred
Police Spokesperson
25th September 2023
