A South African national, Joachim Ugochukwu Onyeako, has been handed a 30-year jail term for the abduction of a Zimbabwean citizen aimed at securing a ransom.

The verdict was delivered by a panel of three justices from the Court of Appeal, comprising Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera, Christopher Gashirabake, and Oscar Kihiika. They concluded that the abduction of Ross Robert James was meticulously planned and executed in Uganda by a group of international criminals, including Onyeako.

According to court documents, on July 21, 2013, the victim received an email regarding an investment opportunity purportedly assisting Luciana Ford in relocating a family fortune of $20 million from Zimbabwe to Australia.

Subsequent communications followed, with the victim exchanging phone numbers with the sender of the initial email, and further emails were received from someone identifying as Michael Oweni, claiming to be Ford’s attorney.

After prolonged correspondence, Oweni allegedly invited the victim to Uganda to finalize the deal with Ford, citing safety concerns in Zimbabwe. The victim made arrangements to travel to Uganda and was assured of pickup from Entebbe airport to Sheraton Hotel Kampala for a meeting with Ford.

Upon arrival at Entebbe airport, the victim was received by David Onyedeke, who instead drove him to a residence in Seguku, where he was instructed to enter the house with his luggage.

Upon entering, the victim encountered Onyeako and Sam Iyke, who instructed him to abandon the plan of meeting Michael at the Sheraton hotel. Sensing danger, the victim complied.

A file folder presented to the victim revealed that he was being held as a hostage until a ransom of €650,000 was paid. They managed to obtain €10,000 before the police intervened and arrested them as they were taking the victim back to the airport.

Onyeako, despite others pleading guilty, attempted to negotiate a plea bargain which was unsuccessful, leading to a full trial where he was found guilty and sentenced to 17 years in prison by Justice Lydia Mugambe.

Unsatisfied with the trial court’s decision, Onyeako appealed to the Court of Appeal, citing irregularities in the trial process. The justices in Kampala found the initial sentences to be illegal and set them aside, imposing new sentences to deter such sophisticated crimes.

“The appellant and his accomplices orchestrated a crime that incurred significant travel expenses for the victims. They rented accommodation, hired vehicles, and recruited personnel to carry out the offense. Their arrest during a similar crime demonstrates they are not ordinary criminals,” stated the justices.

They emphasized that committing such crimes in Uganda tarnishes the country’s reputation and undermines its tourism sector.

“In light of this, the appellant is sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment for count one, with a deduction of 8 years served on remand. For count two, he is sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, also deducting the 8 years spent on remand. These sentences are to be served consecutively, starting from November 16, 2021, the date of conviction.”