According to Elly Maate, the Kigezi Regional Police Spokesperson, two masked gunmen robbed Ishamel Ndyowawe, a 20-year-old manager at KG Mini Petrol Station, and Sarah Birungi, a 26-year-old shop owner, at gunpoint around 9:00 PM.
Police in Kisoro District have launched investigations into an aggravated robbery that occurred on the night of June 16, 2025, in Bihuru Village, Gasinza Parish, Nyakabande Sub-county. According to Elly Maate, the Kigezi Regional Police Spokesperson, two masked gunmen robbed Ishamel Ndyowawe, a 20-year-old manager at KG Mini Petrol Station, and Sarah Birungi, a 26-year-old shop owner, at gunpoint around 9:00 PM.
The attackers approached Ndyowawe while he was on duty, pointed a gun at him, and ordered him to surrender all the money or be shot. Fearing for his life, Ndyowawe handed over an unspecified amount of cash. The gunmen then moved to Birungi’s nearby shop and similarly robbed her before firing two bullets into the air and fleeing.
Following the incident, Ndyowawe alerted his employer, Elias Kamaana, who promptly reported the matter to the Kisoro District Police Commander. Police responded quickly, secured the scene, and recovered two cartridge casings during a forensic investigation. A sniffer dog was brought to the area but failed to track the suspects, likely due to the scene being disturbed before police arrived.
Maate confirmed the incident and urged business owners—especially those operating late—to hire private security guards and install surveillance cameras to deter crime and help identify culprits. In a related development, an angry mob in Bupfumfu Village, Rwaramba Parish, Nyakinama Sub-county, lynched Desire Iradukunda, a suspected armed robber.
Police had earlier arrested Iradukunda alongside five others for allegedly attacking Kenneth Mucunguzi, a shop attendant working for businessman Michael Turinayo, at Mugomberero Trading Centre in Muramba Sub-county. During the robbery, the suspects reportedly shot and injured Mucunguzi before fleeing with 23 million shillings. The police transferred the suspects to Mbarara Police Station for further interrogation, and later returned them to Kisoro Police Station on May 29.
While in custody, Iradukunda developed health complications and was admitted to Kisoro Police Health Centre, then referred to Kisoro Hospital. On the night of his referral, he escaped from the hospital bed, leaving behind Police Officer No. 58490 Alex Musinguzi, who had been assigned to guard him. Locals spotted Iradukunda roaming Bupfumfu Village on Wednesday night. Upon identifying him, they quickly mobilized and beat him to death.
Earlier this month, robbers also attacked a trading centre in Nyakinama Sub-county, stealing over 3.398 million shillings from four businessmen. The attackers, armed and masked, struck at around 10:00 PM at the shop of Rogers Irankunda, who deals in wholesale and produce. They ordered everyone to lie down and surrender their possessions. Irankunda lost two smartphones and 800,000 shillings in a black polythene bag.
Silvan Kiizakola lost 580,000 shillings and two smartphones. Gideon Kamugisha surrendered 18,000 shillings and a smartphone, while Stephen Busekuro lost 2 million shillings and a smartphone. Edward Ssebahima was also present during the incident. Police have pledged to step up patrols in the affected areas and continue to investigate these robberies.
