Thugs grab rifle from policeman using toy gun

By Geoffrey Mutegeki

The Police in Masindi district are holding two of their own for losing an AK-47 rifle to thugs in a night attack.

The thugs, who are on the run, raided Karubuju Police Station and put one unwitting policeman on gunpoint using a toy gun.

This incident was not unprecedented. A similar one occurred in the same district – around the same time – where a prison warder on guard at Maiha Prison was muscled off a firearm his was holding, with the attacker making off with a magazine containing 30 bullets.

Earlier in July, another such incident happened – thugs raided Bujenje police post and made off with a gun.

In the latest police station episode, the policeman immediately made an alarm after the thugs had taken off with the firearm which had 30 bullets.

The Police Flying Squad, together with the army, tried to hunt the attackers but failed to find them.

The incident happened at about 8.30pm on Wednesday, Moses Ekudot, the district Police commander said.

Investigations are under way as the two policemen remain in detention. Two civilian suspects are also in holding over the same incident.

On arresting the two cops, Ekudot said: “We have detained them for being negligent and failing to give a thorough explanation as to how they were disarmed. We shall recover this gun.”

‘Determined to frustrate us’

Police also suspects it is the same thugs who robbed residents of Bwinjanga and Bujenje on Thursday using the fake gun.

“We suspect it could be the same gun used in the robbery, but we are not so sure,” said Ekudot.

During the robbery, thugs took off with an unspecified amount of money, airtime cards and a motorcycle (UDV 626N) from their victims.

Ekudot said: “We were called by the residents after the thugs attacked. We responded and pursued the thugs, but they vanished in Kinyara sugarcane plantation where we recovered the motorcycle.”

The police boss said that together with the army, the Police are to intensify patrols in the district to avoid such incidents, also further calling for community vigilance.

“I would like to caution all the policemen in the district to be vigilant and on high alert during this festive season. The criminals are determined to frustrate us, but we have to fight them.”

Meanwhile, residents of Masindi town are living in fear over guns and ammunition that are in the hands of criminals.

“In just two days, someone steals a gun, bullets and goes on to steal. We are not safe,” said Robinah Kusiim.

David Kugonza, from Kijura trading centre asked the Police not “to sleep”, but intensify patrols.


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