Uganda tries to assuage fears after kidnapped US tourist is rescued

A Wild Frontiers tour company photo shows American tourist Kim Endicott, right, and field guide Jean-Paul Mirenge a day after they were rescued. Photo / AP

US President Donald Trump asked Uganda to find the abductors of a US tourist and her guide to reassure guests of security, even after the East African nation's leader said the incident is isolated and that the parks are safe.

"Uganda must find the kidnappers of the American tourist and guide before people feel safe in going there," Trump said today on Twitter.

Kimberly Sue Endicott and local guide, Jean Paul Mirenge, were abducted last week in Queen Elizabeth National Park about 380km west of the capital, Kampala. The park is a popular tourist destination because of its tree-climbing lions, hippopotamuses, elephants, and over 500 bird species.

Trump's comments came after the vacationer and guide were rescued, and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni tried to reassure tourists that the country is safe.

The state will enhance security in its national parks to deal with "isolated pockets of criminals" such as those who snatched the two last week, Museveni said on Twitter.

Tourism is Uganda's biggest source of foreign currency and authorities estimate its earnings jumped by about a fifth last year to US$1.7 billion following a visit by US musician and fashion designer Kanye West and his wife Kim Kardashian West.

Endicott and Mirenge were freed in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo after five days in captivity, but their abductors escaped, Uganda government spokesman Ofwono Opondo said by phone.

Police said that the two were in good health. They'll be given time to partly recover before being interviewed by security officials, Opondo said, without giving further details.

A payment was made to secure their release, AFP reported, citing Mike Walker, manager of Wild Frontiers Safaris, the company that conducted the tour. The abductors had earlier demanded a US$500,000 ransom using Endicott's mobile phone.

Authorities aren't "aware that a ransom was paid," Opondo said.

- Bloomberg