Recovered/Located UGANDA - Kimberly Sue Endicott, 56, & Jean-Paul Mirenge Remezo, 38, kidnapped for ransom, 2 Apr 2019

[MimosaMornings]

Thank you!! Sitting here reading this on a solo trip to Cartagena, Colombia as a female traveler. I’m so sick of hearing about how traveling is so unsafe. It seems most Americans are afraid to go outside of their cul de sacs, except maybe to sit on a beach at a Sandals with a bunch of other white Americans and feel exotic. Sorry to be on my soapbox!

Have fun Azure!

 

[Gardenista]

LOL

The rescue of kidnapped tourist Kimberly Sue and driver guide Jean Paul is complete. Both captives back in safe hands. We thank our security agencies who led the mission. This was a one off and isolated incident. Our national parks have been and remain safe to visit.

— Uganda Wildlife (@ugwildlife) April 7, 2019

 

[katydid23]

Wow great news

And the driver was held captive with her

I was wrong to accuse him

Happy dance time !

 

[cybervampira]

US grandmother sits with tour company 'rescuers' five days after being kidnapped from Uganda park | Daily Mail Online

• Kimberly Sue Endicott, 56, was taken back to her lodge in the Queen Elizabeth National Park where she was kidnapped in Sunday, after five days as a hostage
• She was pictured clutching a large bottle of water and appeared to be in shock as she shook the hand of Wild Frontiers Uganda director Paul Goldring
• Tour guide company whose driver was also kidnapped paid to release them near the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a source told New York Times
• Father Jean-Paul Mirenge Remezo, 48, grinned as he shook Goldring's hand
• Trump tweeted: 'Pleased to report the American tourist and tour guide that were abducted in Uganda have been released. God bless them and their families!'
• State-run Uganda Wildlife Authority said an armed ranger is supposed to be with tourists and their guides at all times but claimed there was not on this trip
• A $500,000 ransom was demanded for their release, police said Wednesday

 

[azure]

Have fun Azure!

Thank you, it was lovely!

So glad Kimberly and Paul are safe! I know I was a bit snarky in my post earlier, but this is a good reminder to always take all available precautions to stay safe.

 

[cybervampira]

American grandmother begins her journey home after being freed by Ugandan kidnappers | Daily Mail Online

The American grandmother who was kidnapped during a safari trip in Uganda began her journey home on Monday amid questions surrounding her release and who paid for it.

Kim Endicott, 56, was seen boarding a helicopter in Inshasha Wilderness Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park on Monday after being handed back over to Wild Frontiers Uganda Safaris by her captors on Sunday.

[...]

'Obviously, somebody must have paid something but it was not us, hand on heart,' a spokesman for Wild Frontiers Uganda, the company she was traveling with which was the presumed benefactor of her ransom, told DailyMail.com on Monday.

The State Department refused to share details of her rescue or her return to the US citing a 'privacy considerations' which prevent them from commenting.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last week that the US, as a matter of policy, did not give in to kidnappers' demands. Ugandan officials also denied paying any of the ransom to secure her release on Monday.

'I have indicated to you that we don't do ransom,' Ugandan police spokesman Fred Enanga said at a press conference.

He said he did not know who paid for Endicott's release but that it was 'of course', a possibility it was either the US or Uganda.

'It's pretty obvious something happened but there was never $500,000 or any amount paid by us.

[...]