The Uganda People’s Defence Forces, UPDF in the Kayunga District. Central Uganda is on the lookout for an aggravated robbery that took place on Monday night close to the primary police station in Kayunga.
The Kayunga district headquarters, which is close to the Kayunga District police headquarters, was the scene of the heist at 9 o’clock in the evening, according to Ms. Hellen Butoto, the spokeswoman for the Ssezibwa Region.
One of the victims, Mr. Aramanzan Sabiiti, claimed that he and 34 other sellers were riding in a truck back from the weekly market in the Bbaale area when they ran across a roadblock manned by four gunmen wearing UPDF uniforms close to a swamp on the Kayunga-Bbaale road.
“The armed men ordered all of us to lie down, after which they asked us to hand over all the money and phones that were in our possession. In a panicky mood, we handed over every valuable we had to them,” he said.
One of the victims is Mr. Tonny Mabinda, a physician employed with Bbaale Health Center IV. When he told the alleged gunmen he had no money, they beat him up.
“So far, no arrest has been made; however, police are working tirelessly to see that the robbers are apprehended as investigations continue,” Ms. Butoto said.
Some victims blamed the police for failing to act quickly after being informed about the crime and the fact that it took place only 400 metres from a police station.
“Our repeated phone calls to the Kayunga District Police Commander, Ms. Rosette Sikahwa, went unanswered; thus, she was not available.
Peter Mawerere, the Kayunga deputy resident district commissioner, promised that if the offenders were discovered, they would be sought out and brought before the courts.
“My only request to the community is that they exercise caution and alert the police to dangerous situations. There is no need to be alarmed,” Mr. Mawerere said.
There have been several instances recently of armed robbers setting up illegal roadblocks while wearing police or UPDF uniforms.