The daring intervention
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I As millions of Ugandans calmly enjoyed their weekend, a daring armed robbery was unfolding in downtown Kampala.
According to Kituuma Rusoke, the spokesperson for the Uganda Police described the incident as one of the most courageous rescue stories of all time.
“At approximately 8 PM, officers from Natete Police Station came to the aid of a Mobile Money agent, whose valuables had been snatched.
He said while on a routine patrol in Lungujja, Mengo, around Rubaga Division, police officers heard a man raising an alarm from a mobile money shop. The man desperately cried out for assistance as robbers attempted to steal from him.
The on-duty officers promptly responded to the man’s call for help, and upon reaching the location, they discovered a violent struggle between the robbers and the victim.
“The officers responded swiftly to the distress call and arrived at the scene to find a violent struggle between the suspects and the victim over a small black bag containing cash. As the area Officer in Charge (OC) attempted to apprehend one of the suspects, prompting his accomplice pulled out a panga (machete), prompting one of the officers to fire a warning shot into the air. Startled by the gunfire, the suspects fled the scene.” He confirmed that preliminary investigations have shown that the 3 slain robbers belonged to one of the biggest gangs that have been terrorizing Kampala for years.
Furthermore, the statement indicated that the motorcycle unit of the police chased the assailants and subsequently exchanged gunfire with them.
Two of the perpetrators were killed on spot, while a third succumbed to injuries incurred while being taken to Mulago Hospital. Two of the criminals escaped on a motorcycle that had no license plate.
Meanwhile, a couple of items were recovered at the scene which included hard cash amounting to about Shs8.4m shillings among others that belonged to the victim. Other items recovered included motorcycles belonging to the thugs.
“At the scene, police recovered several exhibits, including a bag containing Shs 8,435,000, two transaction mobile phones (MTN and Airtel), the victim’s National Identity Card, and his house keys.
Officers also recovered two motorcycles—one with registration number UGE 294X (a maroon Haojue) and another numberless Haojue—along with two pangas.”
