Police have launched a manhunt for three armed assailants who raided two mobile money shops in Kawempe Division over the weekend, escaping with Shs 3 million.
The robbery took place in Kanyanya at around 10:00 pm on Friday, targeting shops owned by David Karuhanga and Bruno Tayebwa.
According to preliminary investigations, the attackers first raided Karuhanga’s shop, assaulting and kicking him before making off with approximately Shs 400,000. They then turned their attention to Tayebwa’s adjacent shop, where they held him at gunpoint and robbed Shs 3 million.
“There were three men armed with pistols, who entered the shop of Tayebwa, put him and his wife at gunpoint, and they surrendered all the cash they had made, the thugs made off with the cash and four phones, before our arrival,” said Patrick Onyango, Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson.
Bystanders attempted to intervene, throwing stones at the robbers. However, the assailants fired warning shots, dispersing the crowd and securing their escape.
Police have since documented the crime scene, recovering bullet projectiles as part of ongoing inquiries. Onyango urged members of the public to come forward with any information that could aid investigations.
Resemblance to Ntinda-Kiwatule robbery
This incident in Kawempe has drawn comparisons to last year’s robbery and murder in Ntinda-Kiwatule. In that case, armed thugs on a motorcycle fatally shot Albert Tugume, the brother of Kampala deputy lord mayor Doreen Nyanjura, and boda-boda rider Barnabas Sabiti.
Tugume, 33, was attacked on November 21, 2024, while closing his mobile money shop. The robbers made off with his cash, leaving both him and Sabiti dead.