Robbers In Four Lives Robbery, Another Family Goes Hiding
Barely three - days since we reported a jilted husband who demolished his in-laws' house in Mukono district 22.5 kilometres north-east of the capital-Kampala, residents of Nabuti village in the same area were left in a sudden upsetting mood after a group of unidentified armed individuals brutally murdered four people and left scores badly injured.
In February 2016, Mrs Katherine Kavuma, a widow and one of her daughter Winnie Kigula were lucky to escape unhurt when their in-law John Desire Kasujja hired some goons who reduced their family house to a mere debris. Mrs Kavuma's family accused of conspiring to remarry Sabrinah Namawejje wife to Kasujja survived death because the attackers arrived couple of minutes later.
However, 24 - year-old, Julie Naggawa a mobile money assistant, Godfrey Bamwise, Muna Isabirye and Charles Ssegabi were not lucky as Mrs Kavuma's family. Another person Robert Mugalu bodaboda [motor bike taxi], still in a life threatening critical condition at the National Referral hospital Mulago.
According to the Kampala Metropolitan spokesperson, Patrick Onyango, a journalist turned police officer, Ms Naggawa, Bamwise, Ssegabi and Isabirye were victims of robbery went bad after being shot at and killed. No arrests.
"Three thugs stormed the village [Nabuti] and a bodaboda [ motor bike taxi ] reached the mobile money shop, one of the attackers started firing the bullets that killed Naggawa and took off with unspecified amount of money," said the Metropolitan spokesperson Onyango. (Read: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-9_rUPqXRiM ).
According to Onyango, the other two victims; Isabirye and Mugalula were shot as residents tried to chase the attackers. This is not a news phenomenon nor an isolated incident in the country, several people particularly, prominent ones have been put out of action in similar fashion.
In a separate exclusive interview, an eye witness account suggests a more bigger problem about this incident than what meets the physical eyes.
"Since 2012, bodaboda [ motor bike taxis] riders are not distinguished from, secret police, robbers or murderers," said an eye witness who preferred to remain anonymous for fear of retribution. He was in reference of dozens of people in cussing the Muslim clerics who have been brutally murdered in and around the country in the same fashion with no clue and no arrest.
"The police version will always be to make up with the people but nothing investigated," said the eyewitness an account supported with the recent spate of extra-judicial killings around the country.
He added: "From Kasese extra-judicial kill, there's no one held to account for the brutal murders. It's the eggs in the police force."
In the past three months, the Police Flying Squad operatives have shot and put seven suspects out of action. With such mistrust, the civilian population is careful to associate with police.