The chilling reconstruction of Soroti mobile money agent's murder

KAMPALA - Business in Uganda's eastern city of Soroti took a pause Tuesday afternoon as police led murder suspects back to the streets where a young mobile money agent met her tragic end last Friday.

Stunned residents watched in silence as detectives retraced the final moments of 32-year-old Patricia Kokunda, whose killing on Good Friday has shaken the city’s sense of safety and exposed the dangers faced by cash handlers.

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

'I pulled her out'

The trail began in Moru-Apesur, a suburb of the city, where police say the suspects first hatched their plan. According to investigators, Kokunda had been under surveillance for days.

She 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 the YY offices in the city centre, Kokunda's movements were closely monitored. Another team was stationed near Pioneer Primary School, ready to track her that fateful morning.

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

What happened next unfolded with chilling precision.

During the reconstruction, the key suspect, Simon Epeu alias Iboda, 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. As Kokunda tried to pursue him, an armed accomplice opened fire, fatally shooting her in the legs.

After the robbery attack, the suspects fled towards Aminit in Soroti’s East Division, near Barlows Nursery and Primary School. It is here, police say, that the group shared the stolen money, which is believed to exceed sh40 million.

Epeu told investigators he received sh8 million, along with an additional sh5 million meant for two other accomplices who allegedly masterminded the deal.

Simon Epeu alias Iboda and his co-accused on handcuffs at the crime scene. (Credit: Godfrey Ojore)

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

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

'They have confessed'

Kokunda succumbed to her injuries at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, leaving behind a grieving family and a stunned business community. She was laid to rest on Easter Monday.

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

Police say swift investigations, aided by CCTV footage, led to the arrest of several suspects. Those currently in custody include Epeu, Alex Okello, Felix Onego and Alfred Elacu.

As Epeu narrated to the police during the reconstruction of the crime scene, two other suspects kept quiet throughout the entire process.

According to Police's 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. 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 "prioritise their security and cooperate with law enforcement".

But for many in Soroti, Tuesday's chilling reconstruction offered more than just answers; it laid bare the terrifying reality of a crime that was planned, watched, and executed in plain sight.

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