Kampala, (UG): Security investigations have revealed that the gun used by assailants in the fatal shooting of a private security guard at BanXell Forex Bureau in Kabuusu, Rubaga Division belongs to Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
The gruesome incident which occured at around 10pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, saw the shooters kill Agama Peter, a 36-year-old guard attached to Wolves Security Group and walked away with his riffle.
What shocked investigators is that much as the shooting resulted into death of the guard and at a Forex Bureau, the thugs only stole the gun and took no cash from the premises.
A swift response action from security intelligence tracked the killers and three of them arrested at Premier Betting House in Kawala with the killer gun also recovered in the process.
Addressing the media in Wednesday afternoon, the UPDF Spokesperson, Brig Felix Kulayigye confirmed that a the killer gun belongs to the UPDF, but said the assailants likely hired it from a deserter who is wanted by the army.
“It is true,” Brig Kulayigye said of the gun’s ownership, adding that “Three suspects carried out the shooting and two have so far been arrested.”
“It appears the gun they used was hired [out] by a UPDF deserter. We are still hunting for him,” Kulayigye added emphasizing that the suspects are part of a group that has been staging armed robberies and terrorising city residents.
According to Mr Kulayigye, the Defence Security and Intelligence (DSI) agency, formerly the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), and police have been jointly tracking the outlaws for a while, although they eluded arrest.
Over the weekend, security identified the suspects after receiving specific intelligence lead as to their next plot. Inside sources within the security said the suspects had on the fateful day this week had aimed to raid Lubaga Police Post near the Catholic Cathedral, the seat of Kampala Archdiocese, with a plan to steal AK-47 rifles from the on-duty police officers.
They reportedly changed plan after they found security at the police post reinforced.
A source familiar with the investigations said they believe the assailants who were on their way to an unknown destination, shot and killed the guard because they saw an opportunity to take a gun.
“They saw an armed private security guard, who was alone and went for him. They shot him and made off with his gun,” a source said.
Another source said once an alert about a shooting incident in Rubaga Division was flagged in security circles, surveillance teams suspected it was the group which had been on the radar.
The personnel swung into action, tracking the suspects to Kawaala Zone, another city outskirt, and the trio was arrested at a betting place.
Police yesterday said two guns were reportedly retrieved from the suspects, which investigators intend to tender as part of the evidence to incriminate them.
“Two firearms were recovered during the operation; these are [gun number] UG PSO 56 4000868 12452, along with 13 rounds (presumably the firearm belonging to the deceased), and another firearm, believed to have been used in the commission of the crime, with 10 rounds (bullets),” Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson, Mr Luke Owoyesigyire said in police statement released on Wednesday about the incident.
Last week, armed thugs attempted to carry out a robbery near a forex bureau in Bukoto, Nakawa Division, but a private security guard shot at them and they fled. The thugs are said to have made a comeback, only for the guard to again repulse them, this time shooting and injuring one who dropped his gun.
But it has not disclosed whether the recovered gun belonged to any state security or intelligence outfit, or was privately owned. Three suspects have since been identified by the police.
According to the 2023 police annual crime report, at least 18% of the crowns registered last year were related to robbery.
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