Three soldiers held in Iganga over robbery

Police in Iganga are holding three UPDF soldiers on charges of armed robbery.

They are Seargent Meddy Katongole, Seargent Fred Walusimbi and Geofrey Maganda - all attached to Bombo army barracks.

They were arrested Thursday after reportedly robbing a businesswoman identified as Victor Sanyu, who resides in Nakavule Zone, Iganga municipality after allegedly raping her on her way from home.

The soldiers are said to have robbed her of her mobile phone worth sh340,000.

The first suspect was picked up from one of the suburbs of Iganga municipality during a police operation headed by the district police commander Nassibu Nditta.

James Mubi, the police spokesman for Busoga East, said the three who have been on the police's most wanted list are among a group of armed people who have been robbing people along the highways of Jinja-Kampala, Iganga-Kaliro and Iganga-Bugiri during late night hours.

An AK-47 rifle fully loaded with live ammunition was recovered by police from the three. It had been hidden in a bush along the main highway.

Mubi said the trio was taken into custody after police tracked the stolen phone and consequently arrested one of the suspects.

"The first one directed us to where the other two thugs were," he said.

Police are still hunting for others believed to be part of a group that has been robbing people especially passengers along the main highways.

DPC Nditta said the three are to soon appear before court to answer charges of armed robbery, felony by a public officer and rape.

The deputy resident district commissioner of Iganga, Wafula Ogumbo, has urged anyone with information that could help in the arrest of more thugs to voluntarily offer it to police confidentially.

Residents of Iganga municipality have hailed the move by police to arrest the suspects.

John Kizito, a resident and businessman along Saaza road in Iganga municipality, said he had always feared moving along the highways especially during the night.

Earlier this year, police gunned down two armed thugs at Nabisere village, five kilometers along the Iganga-Bugiri highway on Idd, as they attempted to rob passengers who ply along the route.

The two who were dressed in army uniform had earlier robbed three Kenyan nationals traveling along that route. They took KeSh450,000, two mobile phones and other valuables before tripping them naked.