Kampala, (UG): The Police in Kampala have dismissed with disgrace four of its officers and charged them with aggravated robbery for their involvement in the robbery of cash worth USD 30,000 (about 114m shillings) from a Kenyan businessman.
The implicated officers who are stationed at Kabalagala Police Station in Kampala were allegedly found in possession of USD 30,000 and wanted to exchange it for Uganda shillings to buy a lorry.
Police Spokesperson, Mr Fred Enanga identified the accused as; DC Among Phiona, aged 28, DC Angula Isaac, aged 27, DC Baluku Shafik, aged 26 and DC Galenda Bernard all attached to Kabalagala Police Division.
Preliminary facts gathered indicate that on January 17, 2024, Muhammad Olad Abdirahman, a 37-year-old, Kenyan businessman from Kisenyi, went to Royal View Hotel Buziga, for accommodation.
During his stay at the hotel, Enanga explained that the victim requested the manager to help identify the Forex with the best exchange rate for USD 30,000 which was in their possession. The money was to be used to buy a lorry.
“The hotel manager tipped off one officer (Adong), who alerted 3 other colleagues. They reached the hotel around 4 pm and in conspiracy with Okello, who was pretending to be a foreign exchange broker and the manager of the hotel, caused the arrest of the victims. They bundled them into a motor vehicle, and drove them through Kabalagala barracks road, up to another hotel garden, where they robbed from them the USD 30,000 and chased them away,” Mr Enanga told journalists during a security briefing on Monday at Naguru Police Headquarters.
After recounting their ordeal, the victims filed a case at the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), leading to the arrest of the four officers. Searches at the officers’ homes resulted in the recovery of some dollars and other exhibits.
“The 4 officers were arrested, and a quick search at their homes led to the recovery of some dollars and exhibited. The scenes were fully documented. Efforts are now in place to track down Okello and the Manager and have them arrested,”Enanga stated.
“The police officers have disgraced the force, after being charged with heinous crimes that erode the trust of the police within the community. We will not shy away from accountabilities, as the majority of officers; continue to serve Ugandans every day with pride and integrity, to keep our country safe,” he added.
The 2022 annual crime report highlighted a total of 443 cases of aggravated robbery of cash reported to the police in 2022, representing a 1.6% increase compared to 2021 when 436 cases were reported.
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