An American tourist and her Ugandan driver were kidnapped at gunpoint in Uganda’s most known national park, Queen Elizabeth National Park on Tuesday.

“We will leave no stone unturned until the situation is corrected,” are the words of Senior Uganda Tourism Minister, the Honorable Professor Ephraim Kamuntu, standing on the point the tourist was kidnapped close to the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“There is no place for the kidnappers to go, and security is close to a breakthrough. They cannot succeed, they can’t,” the minister added.

Lily Ajarva, CEO of the Uganda Tourism Board, said, “There is no reason for panic. There is no danger for any tourist in Uganda, and tourists feel very secure. This is an isolated incident, that is regrettable, and I absolutely condemn it. Our track record shows no incidents for 3 decades. Uganda remains a safe and beautiful country for visitors.”

An elite army unit is searching the area, the border to Congo is closed, and the FBI is actively a part of the negotiations with the kidnappers demanding US$500,000.

In the meantime, the investigation is at a critical stage, 5 days into the abduction.