A police officer has been arrested for being part of a group that intercepted a taxi and robbed its occupants of $317,900( approximately shs1.2bn) on gunpoint.
The other members of the gang that participated in the robbery included a man in UPDF uniform and civilians according to police.
Hadija Namutebi, the police’s Chief Political Commissar told journalists on Monday that on September, 19, 2023, the taxi was intercepted by a Super Custom vehicle with number plates concealed with MK army stickers.
The police officer identified by victims as having three pips( Assistant Superintendent of Police rank) who was holding a pistol put the occupants on gunpoint before they were robbed of the cash.
“With the help of the CCTV footage viewed at Be Energy Petrol Station, and through intelligence, the four suspects were arrested and their residences were searched for possible evidence. The suspects were interviewed and their statements were recorded where they admitted participating in the robbery and mentioned their associates,” Namutebi told journalists.
According to Namutebi the resultant operation led to the arrest of Moses Lubega, Joseph Nuwagaba, Richard Kyomuhendo and ASP Kakana James the officer in charge of Namayingo police station.
She said when a search was done at the homes of the suspects, the vehicle, registration number UAW 187W a Super Custom used in the robbery was recovered together with another vehicle, a Subaru , registration number UBN 291A which had been bought using the robbed money worth $10,700 was recovered.
Also from the home of Josephat Nuwagaba was shs591,000 whereas household items like sofa sets, TV sets, cooking utensils, and other assorted properties were recovered from the home of Lubega Moses all as proceeds of the robbed money.
Namutebi said ASP Kakana who had earlier escaped arrested from his station in Namayingo was later arrested from Nansana in Wakiso.
The four suspects have since been arraigned in Mpigi grade one magistrates court.
“We condemn in the strongest terms where a person entrusted to protect lives and property of Ugandans and people in Uganda turns against them to participate in such a manner. It is an individual capacity and doesn’t in any way represent the police,” Namutebi said.
She noted that police will follow up the matter until the suspects get the deserved punishments.
