The kidnappers held her captive for nearly three weeks, demanding up to $1 million before accepting about $200,000 (approximately UGX 700 million). During her captivity, they cut off two of her fingers and sent them alongside a video of her pleading for help to pressure her family into paying the ransom.
Akena referred to historical statements by President Museveni acknowledging the destruction of food supplies and the destitution of about 2.7 million people during that period. He argued that the loss of cattle deprived communities of daily nutrition, household income, school fees, draft power, and soil fertility, leaving effects that continue to be felt today.
Operating under the Bamboo Uganda umbrella, organization members such as Amabanda, Bjimu, Studio Akeka, and Ekibbo produce a diversity of products to meet both local and international demand, including bamboo poles and strips that serve as the foundation for various applications in construction, crafts, and fencing solutions; laminated timbers; roofs; and biochar, among others.