Female US tourist abducted by gunmen in Uganda’s most popular safari reserve and held for £380k ransom
Four armed men ambushed a tourist van during a game drive, taking the driver and a US tourist hostage
A FEMALE US tourist is being held hostage by armed bandits who ambushed a safari park van in Uganda.
Four gunmen hijacked a tour group on a game drive at Queen Elizabeth National Park, the country's most popular safari reserve.
Police said the gunmen abducted an American tourist, a woman aged 35, and a local safari guide who was driving.
Soldiers are hunting the gang, who used the victim's mobile phone to demand a $500,000 (£380,000) ransom.
Army spokesman Brigadier Richard Karemire said today: "All security agencies are coordinating to ensure the tourist and guide are freed unharmed."
Police said: "We strongly believe the perpetrators and victims could still be trapped within our search area, and we are hopeful our efforts will lead to their successful recovery."
Security chiefs have sealed the border to stop the bandits fleeing into the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bandits struck between 6pm and 7pm yesterday between the Katoke Gate and the Wilderness Camp, one of the plush resorts inside the park.
Two other people left behind in the van - an elderly couple - were able to call for help after the gunmen left with the hostages.
The Uganda tourism board said: “The outlaws put the occupants under gun point and abducted two of them: a Ugandan driver and an American citizen.
“The other occupants of the van who were left behind managed to contact a few people, who came to their rescue.
“All security agencies such as the Uganda Police and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces including wardens from the Uganda Wildlife Authority have joined in the hunt for these outlaws with the main aim of safely securing the hostages.
“The lives of the kidnapped are a key priority during this process. We appeal for calm as we find a lasting solution to this issue.”
The US state Department said: “We are aware of reports of a US citizen kidnapped in Uganda.
“Security forces are responding to the incident. We have no further information to offer at this time.”
Queen Elizabeth National Park covers more than 760 square miles in East Africa's Rift Valley.
Chimps and tree-climbing lions are among the popular wildlife in the park, which includes grassland, forest, lakes and volcanoes.
Guests in the Ishasha Wilderness Camp sleep in luxury tents each with private verandahs overlooking the Ntungwe river.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.