Armed thugs attack Kibuku businessman, flee with cash and land titles

Kibuku, Uganda: Police have launched investigations into a violent aggravated robbery after a prominent businessman was attacked and injured by an armed gang that raided his home in the early hours of Thursday.

The victim, Paul Pande, 62, was rushed to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital for treatment after the attack, which occurred at around 1:00 a.m. at his residence in Kotolo II Village, Kotolo Parish, Tirinyi Sub-county.

According to police, a gang of six men riding motorcycles stormed the home, broke into the residence, assaulted Pande, and fled with an unspecified amount of cash and several land titles.

Bukedi North Regional Police spokesperson ASP Wilfred Kyempasa confirmed that an aggravated robbery case has been registered and investigations are ongoing.

Speaking to the DailyExpress, the victim’s brother, Maditi Martin Luther, said Pande sustained serious injuries during the attack and was rushed to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital for treatment.

“My brother was badly beaten during the robbery and is currently receiving treatment at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital,” Maditi said.

Maditi said the victim told him that one of the attackers was armed with a gun, a detail he said differs from an earlier police account indicating that two firearms had been used during the robbery.

He added that the incident was reported to police at around 1:50 a.m., shortly after the assailants fled the scene.

Maditi described his brother as a well-known businessman in Kibuku District involved in the molasses trade. At the time of the interview on Thursday afternoon, he said he was heading to the crime scene alongside the police canine unit to support ongoing investigations.

Police have appealed to members of the public with information that could help identify or arrest the suspects to report to the nearest police station.