Mobile money agents have become victims of organised attacks from thugs who are now targeting the booming business, write Charles Etukuri and Simon Masaba

Business was booming for 33-year-old Kaita Kitanda, an airtime and mobile money agent, who was operating a series of shops around Kampala.

He had made it a tradition to collect all the money from the shops every Saturday and after counting it, he would then head with the money to his home which was also located in Nansana, a city suburb.

“That Saturday May 11, he visited his shops and took the week’s collection. He had also received some money from his client and he planned to pay his workers their monthly salary and inject the rest into his business,” says his wife, Halima Namakula, who was with him on the fateful night.

As evening approached, he went to the main shop that was being operated by his wife and after balancing the books, he left the shop, telling his wife to find him at home.

“Soon after he left, I closed the shop, jumped on a bodaboda and followed him since I was the one with the keys to our house,” says Namakula, adding that she arrived at the gate at around 11:00pm

On the fateful day.Her account of what exactly happened at the gate reads like fiction.

“I found him waiting for me at the gate. Before I could pay off the rider who had brought me, two hooded men accosted us. The men shot in the air and then ordered us to lie down,” she says.

They moved towards Kitanda and demanded he gives them the bag and phones in his possession. Despite him begging them to take everything he had and spare his life, they shot him in the chest, grabbed the bag which contained some of the money he had collected from his shops and took away nine functional mobile phones loaded with mobile money.

They then vanished. “After they had fled, I could hear him groaning in pain asking for help. We moved to where he was lying and found he had been shot in the chest,” Namakula says.

He died as friends and family members rushed him to the hospital. The death comes in the wake of a series of other murder cases that have rocked the country over the past few months.

Police immediately arrived at the scene with the homicide unit cordoning off the deceased’s home as a scene of crime. Two spent cartridges were recovered and the Police had also lifted finger prints from the scene. Kitaka’s wives, Namakula and Zainabu Namaganda, were interrogated and a suspect later arrested.

Kitaka’s death left most traders with a reason to worry. In what would appear as a new trend which is fast developing, it has become routine for criminals to attack mobile money shops and steal money from agents. Mobile money shops located in the city centre and various suburbs across the capital have fallen prey to criminals, some of whom attack with guns.

This was the fourth high-profile murder of a money changer in just over two weeks. Last month, three other mobile money agents were shot dead in what the Police is now describing as a new wave of robberies where mobile money or shop owners believed to be in possession of huge amounts of money are being targeted.

Amon Mwebaze, a resident of Kisasi who was also dealing in mobile money, was gunned down by thugs who vanished with unspecified amounts of money. Just a week before, thugs waylaid Brave Aibemani in Kamwokya, a city suburb as he was balancing up his day’s collection and shot him dead at his shop. Visiting the scene of crime, Police chief Lt. Gen. Kale Kayihura cautioned traders or agents against moving with huge amounts of money.

Others who have been shot include Tom Kato, who was shot dead in Bweyogerere, a city suburb and allegedly sh25m was taken by the assailants, Meddie Tamale, an agent of MTN in Mukono shot dead in Seeta, Sarah Kiiza of Busega among others.

But even with the upsurge of crime targeting mobile money shops, business seems to be normal among the traders and very few are coming up with new means to ward off criminals.

Many mobile money agents across the country have fallen victim to criminals, who target their businesses because of the huge sums of money they handle.

According to the Police deputy spokesperson, Patrick Onyango, most of these mobile money dealers and wholesale dealers are to be blamed for leaving a trail that is so predictable, making it easy for the attackers to target them.

“For instance you see someone counting huge amounts of money in the evening yet he has no security at his premises,” Onyango says.

Onyango told Sunday Vision that investigations have revealed that some of these cases of robberies are planned in advance. “In some cases, it involves trailing the suspects for some time. The gangs recruit the workers to reveal information about their bosses and the movement of huge chunks of money,” he says.

Last month, the Police arrested a security guard Bosco Ogwang attached to security group who shot dead Tamale.

According to an extra-judicial statement, Ogwang recorded before Mukono magistrate, Mackay Opolot, Ogwang said he was told that Tamale who also operated a mobile money centre regularly moved with big sums of money.

Police cautions mobile money operators

The Police is now cautioning Mobile Money agents, dealers and traders to always close shop before 8:00pm. Dealers have also been warned against moving with huge chunks of money after day sales.

“Some of them work until midnight and, thereafter, carry this money back to their homes,” Onyango says.

The mobile money transfer service is one of the most lucrative businesses in Uganda, with agents handling millions of dollars daily. It is regarded as a more convenient mode of money transfer and, because of its flexibility, it covers areas where banks cannot reach.

Bank of Uganda has estimated that billions of shillings are transacted through mobile money. They offer a cheap alternative to bureaucratic banking systems.

Because of the profitability in the mobile money sector, many mushrooming centres have been set up along several trading centres without minimum security requirements. “The telecom companies do not scrutinise their service providers adequately. All that one needs is identification, a number and the required capital,” says an insider in the telecom sector.

Because of this, it is common to see mobile money traders operating on verandas, under trees, on corridors and yet the business requires one to carry physical cash on him. Onyango calls for the fortification of Mobile Money shops with metal bars and glasses to keep criminals at bay.

Tips on how to keep your premises safe

Train all employees to spot, prevent and react properly to crimes, including complying with the robber’s instructions, remembering identifying characteristics of the robber and securing the crime scene until police arrive.

Install a loud alarm system that can be easily and quickly triggered by employees.

Regularly transfer cash to a drop safe that no one on the premises knows how to open. The less cash in your cash drawer(s), the lower the incentive to rob your business.

Consider using closed-circuit TV cameras (CCTV) to monitor entrances, exits, and cash-handling areas. Invest in a high-quality video recorder, so that any images of thieves will be of maximum use to police.

Post prominent signs saying that your store is being monitored (whether or not it is). Post a “height marker” on all doorways. Place “minimum cash on hand” and “no access” decals on your register and safe to help deter crime.

Maintain good lighting and open sight lines not only inside the store, but also between inside and outside areas.

Eliminate places to hide on the premises, inside and outside. Install angled mirrors, so that clerks behind the counter can see all areas of your business.

Control access to space behind the counter or inside back offices where money is handled or kept. Lock all doors that customers don’t use.

If possible, change staff schedules to make sure no one works alone — particularly during slow periods of the day or night.

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