VIDEO: American tourist Kimberly Sue Endicott arrives back in Uganda after being kidnapped

ByABC7.com staff KABC logo
Monday, April 8, 2019
VIDEO: OC resident arrives back in Uganda after abduction
Video shows Costa Mesa resident Kimberly Sue Endicott arriving back to Uganda after she was kidnapped at gunpoint last week in a wilderness park.

COSTA MESA, Calif. (KABC) -- Video shows Costa Mesa resident Kimberly Sue Endicott and her Congolese safari guide, who were kidnapped at gunpoint last week in a Ugandan wilderness park, arriving safely back to Uganda.

Endicott and her guide Jean-Paul Mirenge Remezo were freed Sunday in a negotiated handover after they were kidnapped for five days.

The release came after a ransom was paid with an unknown amount, but the gunmen originally used Endicott's cell phone to demand $500,000.

RELATED: Costa Mesa resident Kimberly Sue Endicott released after being kidnapped in Uganda

Kimberly Sue Endicott, a Costa Mesa resident who was kidnapped for ransom last week in Uganda, has been released safely along with her Congolese safari guide.

Other details of Endicott's release were not immediately disclosed, including the identity of the person or entity that made the payment.

President Donald Trump tweeted Uganda must find the kidnappers so people will feel safe going there.

"Uganda must find the kidnappers of the American Tourist and guide before people will feel safe in going there. Bring them to justice openly and quickly!" the president's tweet said.

Ugandan security forces launched a search for Endicott and the local driver after they were abducted in the wildlife park on April 2. They were ambushed by four gunmen in the park, a protected area near the porous border with Congo, according to Ugandan police and a government spokesman.