Ugandan police make arrests in kidnapping of Costa Mesa woman who was later released

Arrests have been made in the kidnapping of a Costa Mesa woman in Uganda last week while she was on safari in Africa, authorities said on Tuesday.

Tourist Kimberly Sue Endicott and her guide Jean-Paul Mirenge-Remezo were kidnapped April 2 after they were ambushed in Queen Elizabeth National Park, a protected area near the border with Congo, according to Ugandan authorities.

The Ugandan Police Force reported on Tuesday that “some arrests” were made, though the identities of the suspects and how many were taken into custody was unclear.

“The intelligence-led operation, which was calculated and tactical, in the early stages is now progressing unhindered with raids and extensive searches in Kanungu district, where the suspects were arrested, and the neighboring areas,” the police force said in a news release.

The kidnappers, reported to be armed, demanded a $500,000 ransom, authorities said. It remained unclear if a ransom was indeed paid.

Endicott was reportedly on her way back to the United States.

Five days after being kidnapped, on Sunday, Endicott and the guide were rescued at the Uganda-Congo border.