In a recent incident, a group of armed robbers seized eight buckets of gold valued at UGX 2.5 billion from refinery workers. The incident, which occurred on Sunday night in LuweEro, is currently under investigation by the local police.
According to Mr. Fred Enanga, the Police Spokesperson, the robbery was executed by five armed individuals who were traveling in a Toyota Hiace. These criminals intercepted the victims, who were transporting the precious metal from Arua to Kampala. Following the interception, the perpetrators restrained the victims, confiscating not only the gold but also their cash, amounting to Shs90,000, and mobile phones.
The victims had been using a Toyota Wish for their journey from Arua to Kampala, which was later found abandoned at Nseke trading center in Butuntumula, Luweero District. The criminals fled the scene in their Toyota Hiace towards Kampala.
A joint security team, consisting of the Flying Squad, CMI, Crime Intelligence, and ISO, has been mobilized to locate and apprehend the suspects, who remain at large.
In addition to this incident, the police are currently investigating a series of other aggravated robberies that have occurred in various parts of the country over the past week.
One such case involves a group of robbers who targeted a fuel pump attendant named Jackline Mukyala in Kamuli District. The suspects, traveling in a Toyota Wish with registration number UBL 012Y, robbed her of UGX 8 million while she was en route to the bank. CCTV footage is aiding in identifying the suspects, and inquiries are ongoing in Busoga North and Kamuli District.
Another robbery incident involved the interception of a semi-trailer loaded with paraffin destined for Kampala along the Busia-Jinja road. The robbers stopped the truck with registration number UAU 402E/UBF 209T, tied the driver, Abdul Noor, a Somali national, and robbed him of Shs 120,000. They then drove away with both the driver and the truck. Efforts are underway to locate the abandoned truck after it was emptied.
Furthermore, the police are in pursuit of five armed robbers who intercepted a mobile money dealer, Nasib Kizito, in Nsooba-Kyebando on October 16. They robbed him of an undisclosed amount of money and mobile phones before escaping on a motorcycle.
As a precaution, the police are advising the public to remain vigilant, particularly of individuals who may be following them, especially those using Toyota Wish vehicles, which have become a commonly used getaway vehicle for criminals.
