Robbers undress Police boss
Jul 11, 2006
NAKASONGOLA District Police Commander (DPC) Charles Awiyo, a Catholic priest and other passengers on a Kampala-bound taxi were yesterday stripped naked by four armed thugs who robbed them of cash, mobile phones and other valuables.
By Frederick Kiwanuka
NAKASONGOLA District Police Commander (DPC) Charles Awiyo, a Catholic priest and other passengers on a Kampala-bound taxi were yesterday stripped naked by four armed thugs who robbed them of cash, mobile phones and other valuables.
The incident took place at about 8:30am at Nandere village, four kilometeres off Kalule trading centre on the Kampala-Gulu highway.
The minibus, UAG 225L, was heading from Nakasongola to Kampala but was later found abandoned near Matuga.
Luweero district Police chief Martin Muwanika said the thugs, armed with a pistol and posing as passengers, boarded the taxi in Nakasongola. “Two of the thugs sat in front besides the driver, while one sat in the middle with passengers and the third sat on the back seat,†Muwanika said.
The identity of the priest was not given. However, when they reached Kibisi village, about 45km on the highway at about 8:30am, the thug beside the driver grabbed the steering and drove the taxi off the main road, where the terrified passengers were stripped naked and abandoned.
The 16 passengers walked to a nearby primary school where sympathisers gave them clothes.
The driver of the taxi, Sulait Sempima, said the thugs first threw him out of the vehicle before taking control. Nakasongola district intelligence security officer Lt. Muganzi said Awiyo lost an unspecified amount of money and a mobile phone.
Another passenger, Charles Bogere, lost sh500,000, a camera and a mobile phone. Jane Anaso, who was heading to Mukono, got stranded after being robbed of sh40,000. The thugs made off with the collection from the conductor, Mood Sekajja.
The vehicle was driven and parked at Luweero Police station with the clothes of the passengers.
NAKASONGOLA District Police Commander (DPC) Charles Awiyo, a Catholic priest and other passengers on a Kampala-bound taxi were yesterday stripped naked by four armed thugs who robbed them of cash, mobile phones and other valuables.
The incident took place at about 8:30am at Nandere village, four kilometeres off Kalule trading centre on the Kampala-Gulu highway.
The minibus, UAG 225L, was heading from Nakasongola to Kampala but was later found abandoned near Matuga.
Luweero district Police chief Martin Muwanika said the thugs, armed with a pistol and posing as passengers, boarded the taxi in Nakasongola. “Two of the thugs sat in front besides the driver, while one sat in the middle with passengers and the third sat on the back seat,†Muwanika said.
The identity of the priest was not given. However, when they reached Kibisi village, about 45km on the highway at about 8:30am, the thug beside the driver grabbed the steering and drove the taxi off the main road, where the terrified passengers were stripped naked and abandoned.
The 16 passengers walked to a nearby primary school where sympathisers gave them clothes.
The driver of the taxi, Sulait Sempima, said the thugs first threw him out of the vehicle before taking control. Nakasongola district intelligence security officer Lt. Muganzi said Awiyo lost an unspecified amount of money and a mobile phone.
Another passenger, Charles Bogere, lost sh500,000, a camera and a mobile phone. Jane Anaso, who was heading to Mukono, got stranded after being robbed of sh40,000. The thugs made off with the collection from the conductor, Mood Sekajja.
The vehicle was driven and parked at Luweero Police station with the clothes of the passengers.