School teacher arrested over gun theft

Musa Kayongo, the Kyotera DPC. Photo by David Buyondo

A primary school teacher in Kyotera town council has been arrested along three other for theft of a gun from a Police post and armed robbery.  

Jimmy Nkuubi of Green View Nursery and Primary School is being detained at Kalisizo Police Station while his accomplices (names withheld) are detained at Kyotera Police Station.

Nkuubi is said to have led a group of thugs that raided Luti police post in Kasaali sub-county and took a submachine gun (SMG56 riffle).

The theft occurred in September, leading to the closure of the police post since it was the only gun at the post.

Musa Kayongo, the Kyotera District Police commander confirmed the arrest, saying they are still tracking more members of the racket.

He said the gun has been used in a number of robberies within Kyotera and neigbouring areas. Several people reportedly lost property.

"We raided Nkuubi's house in Ntovu village where we discovered the gun under the bed. It was wrapped in a dirty sack," he said.

He further said they recovered only one bullet out the 29 that were in the magazine.

Betty Nazziwa, a retail shop attendant at Ntovu, is the most recent victim. She was shot in the palm in one of the robberies.

Nkuubi admitted to having raided the police post and took the gun.

 

He further explained that he has been using it to carry out robberies in different areas in Kyotera, Rakai and nearby districts.

According to Kayongo, charges of aggravated robbery, attempted murder, house breaking and gun theft have been preferred against him. His accomplices face similar charges after complete investigations.  

Early this month, the Police raided a house in Lwanda trading centre and arrested three suspects. Their Tanzanian collaborator escaped in the process.

Patrick Kalanzi, 30 of Salaama in Kampala, Eriab Mugabi , 22 and Moses Ssebugwawo, 32 of Lwanda were found in possession of different items, including retail goods, electric appliances and different accessories.

In September, thugs raided Kasaali Prison and took a gun, but the Police discovered it in a swamp after a few days.

Similar robberies

Kyotera and its mother district-Rakai, have experienced similar attacks since 2016. Several people have been killed and others badly wounded by armed thugs.

Also millions of shillings and property has been lost while few suspects have been arrested and arraigned before courts of law.  

On 31st of December 2016, thugs attacked Lance Corporal Kassim Okiror at Mutukula border post and took his gun with two magazines.

Okiror, attached to Uganda Revenue Authority Enforcement unit, went into hiding shortly, but the Police arrested him after few months.

 

Detectives said the same gun was used to terrorise communities in Mutukula, Kyotera and Kalisizo since the bullet shells found at different scenes matched with the gun.

In these incidents, the robbers would storm big retail and hardware shops and stores, fire at people indiscriminately before they rob them of their hard cash.

At least sh70m is said to have been lost in the robberies while one person was killed and 8 people admitted in critical condition.

Residents have since attributed the increasing crimes to the weak judicial system where the suspects are released without proper trial.