Armed robbers raid Rakai town, 1 killed

Gun fire rocked Kalisizo town on Tuesday night paralyzing businesses for over five hours. Armed robbers raided several shops at around 8pm and reportedly made off with more than sh20m.

At least one person was killed and four others injured.

Police identified the deceased as Charles Ssenkaali, 57, a resident of Matale-Kiwenda village in Kalisizo Town Council. He was shot four times in the stomach and died at Kalisizo hospital shortly.

According to eyewitnesses, Ssenkaali had gone to buy sugar when the robbers started shooting indiscriminately using an AK47 riffle.

Others admitted are Moses Bukenya, 19, a resident of Kalisizo, Henry Mulindwa, 19, an attendant at Byansi hardware and Godfrey Serunjogi aged 40 of Nkoko village in Kirumba, and another whose details are still unknown.

Doctors at Kalisizo hospital said Ssenkaali died after bleeding profusely and delayed to reach hospital in time.

Police arrived about an hour late after the incident when the robbers had made their way to unknown location.

Residents protested the action saying they notified police immediately when the shooting started.

"It is absurd that Kalisizo police station is just a stone throw away from where the incident occurred but they came about an hour after the robbers had already gone," Yusufu Kiku, one of the affected businessmen told New Vision on Wednesday.

Another businesswoman only identified as Mrs. Mugejera said she miraculously survived because the robbers passed by her shop. She explained that she had over sh10m in her shop.

However, Hashim Kasinga, the Rakai District Police Commander, immediately imposed a curfew. He ordered all the residents to vacate the town for police to carry out its night operation.

According to the Regional Police Commander Maxwell Ogwal, they are pursuing the thugs in every corner. He urged the residents to always report suspicious people in their locality to avoid similar incidents.