Armed Robbery Victims in Luwero Decry Slow Progress of Investigations

Armed robbery victims in Luwero district have decried the slow progress of investigations by the area police. At least cases of armed robberies were registered in the district within a space of one month.       

The first case occurred on the night of July 12, 2021 around 8.00pm when two gunmen raided Kiwanula Trading Center in Kamira Sub-County. The thugs descended on a mobile money shop belonging to David Kalungi, the Kamira Sub-County LC V councilor. 

Kalungi told URN that the thugs placed him at gunpoint as they ordered him to surrender all the cash as well as the phone with the float balance. According to Kalungi, they robbed him of Shillings 5.5million in cash, 33 mobile phones and other accessories worth millions of Shillings before they sped off on their motorcycle.   

Five days later on July 17, the thugs struck again. This time they raided Kasiiso Trading Centre in the neighbouring Butuntumula Sub-County where they robbed another mobile money agent. According to police, the robbers armed with a Sub Machine Gun (SMG) and pistol attacked Patrick Ssemwasi around 7:45 pm while he was planning to close his shop because of the curfew restrictions.   

Isah Ssemwogerere, the Savannah Region Police Spokesperson told URN then that the thugs put Ssemwasi at gunpoint and ordered him to send all his float balance to their number worth Shillings 2million and robbed 36 mobile phones.

He said just like in the first incident, the thugs fired live bullets in the air to scare possible rescuers as they jumped onto their waiting motorcycle and sped off. In the third incident, a fortnight ago, the thugs struck in the night of August 2 and stole three cows at gunpoint.       

The unidentified attackers believed to have been more than four in number raided a farm belonging to Timothy Mugabi at Kabunyata village in Kamira Sub-County around 1am. The attackers, who said to have travelled in a FUSO truck, first parked a short distance before they stormed the farmhouse wielding firearms.   

They ordered the occupants to open for them in vain. As a result, the thugs used a big stone to smash a window on the farmhouse where five labourers were sleeping. With their guns pointed at the farmworkers, the attackers ordered the occupants including an expectant woman to lie down facing on the floor.     

They started battering them before tying them with ropes to avoid further resistance. They took away four mobile phones and Shillings 500,000 from their victims. They slopped to the farm, chased all the 37 cows on the farm and led them to their truck.  

John Kavuma, the farm manager, who stays a distance away, said that he rushed after learning about the development. He explained that the pregnant woman managed to untie herself and helped untie her colleagues. They then raised alarms for rescue. Residents responded to the alarm prompting the thugs who had only managed to load three animals to flee for their dear lives.   

Now, exactly after a month after the raid on his mobile money shop, Kalungi says that he is dissatisfied with the police’s fruitless hunt for his attackers. Kalungi also notes that some investigating officers told him to facilitate the investigations for his desired fruits. URN could not independently verify the claims.

Luganda Audio 

//Cue in: "Kyenali nsuubira ssikyennafuna...         

Cue out: ...nga afuna obwenkanya."//       

Timothy Mugabi, whose farm was attacked by the thugs, says that he lost hope of recovering the three animals taken by the thugs. He says that police’s failure to apprehend the criminals exposes them to danger.       

Luganda Audio 

//Cue in: "Ekisinga obukulu kukwata...

Cue out: ...ebimu nnebitambula bulungi."//       

When asked to comment about the concerns of the robbery victims, Isah Ssemwogerere, the Savannah region police spokesperson replied in a text message that “We shall explain everything at the end of our investigations.”     

According to the Police Crime report for 2020, six people were killed and a similar number injured in robberies from 2020 to the end of January 2021 in Greater Luwero.

The criminal gangs committed 20 crimes, robbed Shillings 23million, 243 mobile phones, 1 motorcycle, and pistol. The gang terrorized people in Bombo, Kikyusa, Migeera & Wobulenzi town councils in Luwero and Nakasongola districts.