Police Hits Dead End in Kyambogo Shooting Investigation

Detectives at Jinja Road Police Station have shelved the investigation file into the shooting of two suspected armed robbers and attempted robbery of money in a bullion van belonging to Stanbic Bank.  

Over the last one week, the police have been investigating the incident which occurred on March 10, near Kyambogo Police post, to establish the cause of the scuffle that claimed two lives, and the disappearance of the Bullion Van driver.  

Initial statements indicate that by the time the police arrived at the scene, two men were lying in a pool of blood and a gun had been dropped near the bodies. The guards in the bullion van were unconscious and three Internal Security Organisation (ISO) operatives were standing by, holding their AK47 rifles.  

Police records indicate that the two ISO operatives had been trailing the suspected robbers from Kayunga after receiving intelligence information that they planned to rob a routine bullion van transporting Stanbic Bank money. The van which was being followed by the suspected robbers left Stanbic Bank Kayunga, stopped at Mukono branch before proceeding to Kampala.  

However, ISO reportedly intercepted the robbers and killed them before accomplishing their mission. The bodies were taken to Mulago city Mortuary for postmortem, the guards to Mulago Hospital while all the exhibits were taken to ISO headquarters and no explanation was given to police.  

Police have now chosen to shelve the investigation on the ground that even Stanbic Bank has declined to cooperate with the detectives. Police spokesperson Fred Enanga says there is no way to proceed with the case if the bank is not interested.  

The bullion van which was carrying more than 700 million Shillings has since been handed back to the bank.  

"The bank is not interested in the case. We have nowhere to start.  All we have is what our officers saw at the scene, “Enanga said.  

Among the two people shot dead, only one was identified as Bright Turyatunga, a name on the warrant card of the Special Force Commander (SFC) under the Uganda People's Defense Force. However, SFC has since contacted police claiming that Turyatunga is a deserter who was dismissed from the Force after he was convicted of robbery.