An American tourist was snatched by armed kidnappers in an African safari reserve and is being held for $500,000 in ransom.
Ugandan security forces said the 35-year old woman and a guide were abducted during a trip in the Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The park is a popular attraction, housing some 2,500 elephants, and is regarded as safe.
The woman’s cellphone was later used to demand the ransom, police said.
She was touring the park with two other elderly tourists who were left unharmed.
The park is near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, and security forces say they have ‘cut off all exit areas’ along the border.
"We strongly believe the perpetrators and victims could still be trapped within our search area," said Ugandan Media Centre head Ofwondo Opondo.
"A joint operation by the Uganda police, Uganda People’s Defence Forces and Uganda Wildlife Authority game wardens is under way to locate and rescue them."
An elite squad from the tourist police department is also scouring a wide area.
The park is about 100 miles from Bwindi Impenetrable national park, which is famed for gorilla trekking tours.
Army spokesman Brigadier Richard Karemire, called the kidnapping ‘an isolated incident’ and Uganda remains safe for visiting tourists.
