Seven more arrested over Soroti mobile money vendor murder, police trace gun

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The territorial Police in the East Kyoga region have made significant progress in investigating an aggravated robbery and murder by shooting that claimed the life of Patricia Kokunda, a 36-year-old businesswoman and mobile money operator in Soroti city.

Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke, in a statement released on Sunday (April 12), said the incident occurred on April 3, 2026, at around 4:40 am near Goalman Supermarket on Station Road, when unidentified assailants shot the victim and fled with her handbag containing cash and other valuables.

He said the swift response by police led to a breakthrough in the investigations.

From the initial four suspects arrested, the number has since grown to eleven (11), following sustained intelligence-led operations across Soroti, Amuria, Kalaki, and Abim districts.

Those arrested include: Simon Epeu, alias Iboda, suspected of pulling the deceased out of her vehicle; David Emenyu, alias Ogwang Sam, alias Olipong, believed to be the shooter; Emmanuel Okello, alias Imorning, described as one of the main planners; Rashid Eyamu, alias Odekuro, alleged initiator of the robbery plan; Alfred Elacu, suspected supplier of ammunition, together with his wife Hellen Akello; Alex Okello; Jorem Ojele alias Jogo; Julius Elwanu; Felix Onebo, and Salume Akello (wife to the shooter).

He said key exhibits have so far been recovered, including a rifle suspected to have been used in the shooting, ammunition, clothing worn during the operation, a red numberless motorcycle, and a Tecno Camon phone belonging to the deceased.

“The total cash recovered stands at sh10.5 million, out of an estimated sh28 million said to have been robbed. Investigations continue to trace the remaining suspects and establish the full network involved in this organised armed robbery,” Rusoke said.

Scene reconstruction

Business in Soroti city ground to a halt the afternoon of April 7, 2026, as police led murder suspects back to the streets where a mobile money operator met her death.

Residents watched in silence as detectives retraced and reconstructed the murder and aggravated robbery scene, in which Kokunda’s killing on Good Friday (April 3, 2026) shook the city’s sense of safety and exposed the dangers faced by cash handlers.

Those currently in custody who participated in reconstructing the scene include Okello, Onebo, Elacu and Epeu, who narrated what transpired. Two other suspects remained silent throughout the process.

The reconstruction revealed a detailed sequence of how the suspects allegedly planned, tracked, attacked, and later shared the stolen money.

Led by Kyoga East Regional Police Commander Ibrahim Saiga, the exercise pieced together what investigators described as a carefully planned and ruthlessly executed robbery.

The trail began in Moru-Apesur, a suburb of the city, where police say the suspects first hatched their plan and discussed how they would execute the robbery. Detectives said the suspects had taken days to surveil their target.

Kokunda was not just a mobile money agent; she was also a cattle trader, known to move with large sums of cash to markets across the Teso sub-region. Detectives believe this made her a target.

From her rented house near YY offices in the city centre, her movements were closely monitored. Another team was stationed near Pioneer Primary School, ready to track her that morning.

After the meeting on that day, the suspects reportedly moved to the YY corridor from Centenary Bank Street and stood behind Joint Clinic, where they positioned themselves and identified their target. They told police they saw Kokunda leave her house carrying a mobile money table, a bag, and an umbrella.

At around 5:40 am on Good Friday, Kokunda left her home and boarded a taxi on Station Road near Goalman Supermarket, heading to Ocorimongin Cattle Market in Katakwi district.

They later saw her board the taxi. At first, they believed their plan had failed, but quickly decided to act.

What followed unfolded with chilling precision.

During the reconstruction, the key suspect, Epeu, demonstrated how he entered the taxi moments after Kokunda.

“When she entered to sit, I followed and pulled her out,” he told detectives. “I grabbed her bag and ran.”

But the robbery did not end there. A struggle ensued between him and the victim as she tried to hold onto the bag. An armed accomplice identified as Raymond opened fire. She was shot in the legs, a wound that later proved fatal.

Getaway

After the attack, the suspects fled towards Aminit in Soroti’s city's East Division. As they escaped, Epeu told police that Raymond demanded possession of the bag, saying he did not trust the others, describing them as “boys from town” who could run away with the money.

The suspects then fled through Camp Swahili, branched off at Gasco Petrol Station, and proceeded towards Madera.

They later stopped at a swamp near Barlows Nursery and Primary School in Aminit to divide the money. However, Epeu said he could not tell how much was in the bag because Raymond and Emma shared the money while he was assigned a watch role at a distance.

He was later instructed to pick up the sh13 million left on the ground. Out of this, his share was sh8 million, while sh5 million was meant for others involved in planning but not execution.

The total amount stolen is believed to exceed sh40 million.

“The armed man could have fled with the largest share,” a detective involved in the case said on condition of anonymity.

In a striking detail, Epeu admitted fleeing to Dokolo before returning to Otuboi in Kalaki district, where he reportedly spent part of the money in a bar.

Kokunda later succumbed to her injuries at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, leaving behind a grieving family and a shocked business community.

Her death has sparked renewed concern over the safety of mobile money operators, many of whom routinely handle large sums of cash with minimal protection.

Police say swift investigations, aided by CCTV footage, led to the arrest of several suspects.

According to Saiga, authorities have so far recovered sh7 million and the victim’s smartphone.

“We brought the suspects to reconstruct the scene so we can clearly understand each person’s role,” Saiga said.

“They have confessed, and at an appropriate time, they will be presented in court on charges of aggravated robbery and murder.”

Police have condemned the killing and urged the public, especially those dealing in cash, to take extra precautions.

“We urge individuals handling large sums of money to prioritise their security and cooperate with law enforcement,” Saiga emphasised.

But for many in Soroti, the reconstruction offered more than answers; it exposed the reality of a crime that was planned, monitored, and executed in plain sight.

As the city slowly returns to normal, the memory of that Good Friday morning lingers as a stark reminder of how quickly routine can turn into tragedy.