Guard on the run after break-in at HRNJ offices

Jul 05, 2015

Police are on the hunt for a security guard in connection with burglary at the offices of (HRNJ-Uganda.


By Vivian Agaba


KAMPALA - Police are on the hunt for a security guard identified as Faridah Namugerwa in connection with burglary at the offices of the Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda), a media rights body.

Unknown people broke into the HRNJ-Uganda premises in Kayanja Triangle Zone in Rubaga and stole property worth sh40m and sh5m in cash from the office safe.

Four desktop computers, laptops and crucial documents were stolen.

Robert Ssempala, the national coordinator of HRNJ-Uganda, said security guard Namugerwa who was on duty on the night of the break-in, disappeared in the morning, leaving her gun behind.

 “We suspect that she could have connived with the thieves to rob the company,” he said.

“The evening before the robbery, I saw her talking to two boda boda men whose motorcycles did not have number plates and when she saw me, she became very restless,” said Ssempala.

“How do you explain the incident of running away and abandoning the gun after realizing one of the staff members had found out about the incident?”

Mystery


Ssempala said the case has been reported to Rubaga Police Station for further investigations.

Emmanuel Magambo, the in-charge of information technology and security at HRNJ-Uganda, said he was the first staff to arrive at the premises  the morning after the robbery and upon seeing what had happened, he rushed back to check on the security guard only to find just her gun left behind.

The burglars broke into the offices through a window. They broke all internal office doors, vandalized drawers and stole crucial documents.

“It is hard for us to comprehend. This was a highly sophisticated intrusion. The organization is paralyzed, a lot of our important information was taken, we cannot tell what they intend to use it for,” said Ssempala.

“We suspect this to be a reprisal for the work we do in defending and promoting media freedoms and journalists’ rights in the country.”

He added: “Their interest was to access our information which they did because how do you explain the fact that expensive and portable machines like printers, projectors and photocopiers were not taken.

“They targeted specific offices within the premises, making us more suspicious of their intentions. We hope that the police will investigate this matter to its logical conclusion.”

Saad Ramadhan Kabinga, a criminal investigations directorate legal officer, said that police found the gun at the scene.

“We have also started assembling evidence on who could have been behind the theft. We are also looking for Namugerwa for questioning about the incident.”
 

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