Mobile money agent waylaid, robbed in Mityana district

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Police in Mubende district say they are hunting for suspects who waylaid a mobile money and bank agent as he was returning home and robbed him of sh9 million.

Lameck Kigozi, the Wamala Police Region spokesperson, said Vincent Taremwa, 44, a resident of Kasambya B Ward in Kasambya town council, Mubende district, survived being killed on May 19, 2026, after armed robbers ambushed him while he was heading home with money.

“It was at around 7:40 pm at a junction leading to Brac Bank in Kasambya town when two unidentified men riding on a motorcycle pounced on the unsuspecting victim and demanded him to release the bag he was carrying. They cut his left palm with a knife, but he never surrendered his bag to them,” Kigozi said.

He said the robbers eventually overpowered Taremwa after firing bullets in the air, forcing him to surrender the bag and its contents.

“Centenary Bank and Diamond Trust Bank machines, two mobile phones with agent lines and sh9 million, that were contained in the bag were taken,” Kigozi said.

Kigozi said the victim later reported the matter to Kasambya Police Station before seeking treatment at a clinic.

“The scene of crime was visited and documented by Kasambya police detectives. A cartridge was recovered from the scene, which truly confirmed that the robbers were armed with an AK-47 rifle. Statements of witnesses were recorded. The hunt for the robbers is on,” he stated.

Police appealed to banking and mobile money agents to remain vigilant about their security both at their workplaces and while travelling.

“Police appeals to banking and mobile money agents to always be cautious about their security at the premises where they operate from and while on the move because robbers believe they usually have lots of money with them,” Kigozi stated.

Crime statistics

While releasing the Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2025 earlier this month, Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba said a total of 196,405 cases were reported to police, compared to 218,715 in 2024, representing a 10.2 per cent reduction.

Out of the reported cases, 115,301 were submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, of which 79,291 were taken to court.

In 2025, a total of 8,064 cases, representing 4.1 per cent of all reported cases, involved child-related offences. This was a decline from 9,408 cases reported in 2024, reflecting a 14.3 per cent decrease.

Out of these, 848 cases were taken to court, 176 secured convictions, 68 were dismissed, six resulted in acquittals, and 598 are still undergoing trial. A total of 3,486 cases were not proceeded with, while 3,730 remain under inquiry.

Out of the 32 policing regions in Uganda, KMP South registered the highest number of cases at 13,950, followed by Rwizi with 13,416, KMP North with 13,340, North Kyoga with 12,728 and KMP East with 10,388.

At district and divisional level, Wakiso Police Division registered the highest number of cases with 3,177, followed by Luweero Police Station with 3,123, Mukono Police Division with 2,880, Tororo Police Station with 2,831 and Ntungamo Police Station with 2,825.

Robberies

A total of 7,863 robbery cases were reported to police in 2025, compared to 8,163 in 2024, representing a 3.7 per cent decrease.

Cases where lethal weapons were not used accounted for 1,317 incidents, while aggravated robberies involving weapons such as firearms, knives, hammers and machetes accounted for 6,546 cases.

Out of the total robbery cases, 2,733 were taken to court, 1,054 were not proceeded with, while 4,076 remain under inquiry.

The police report indicated a 4 per cent decrease in robbery cases, from 8,163 in 2024 to 7,863 in 2025.

The report also noted that 786 cases involving robbery of cash were reported in 2025, compared to 573 in 2024, representing a 37.2 per cent increase.

Of these, 200 aggravated robbery of cash cases were taken to court, 72 were not proceeded with, while 514 remain under inquiry.