Mob attacks businessman Kalungi

CRIME

KAMPALA - Kampala businessman and property mogul, Moses Kalungi, his wife and two children Friday survived an attack by a group of taxi drivers, conductors and businesspeople in the Old Taxi Park when they pounced on them and attempted to strangle him.
 
The angry mob suspected Kalungi to be touring a plot in the park for possible development.

According to reports, the mob claimed to have received information that Kampala Capital City Authority had sold off the park to businesspeople without considering the sitting tenants.

During the scuffle, Kalungi is said to have pulled out a pistol, which attracted a bigger crowd that attempted to grab the weapon and lynch him.
 
Kalungi, however, escaped and took refuge at a nearby Police post next to Mega Standard Supermarket. The incident occurred at about 7:30pm when Kalungi was walking with his wife Hanifa, son David Kàlungi and daughter Cole Kalungi.
 
He later wrote a statement at the Police post in which he alleged that the attackers had made off with his sh7.5m, wrist watch and mobile phone.

Kalungi denied owning a plot in the area, saying was heading to the New Taxi Park, where he has a construction site, but could not move with his car because of the heavy traffic jam.
 
According to Kalungi, the attack could have been a murder plot by men who had been following him.

The district Police Commander CPS, Joseph Bakaleke, commended the team of Policemen who were deployed to provide security and condemned the attack, saying everyone had a right to go anywhere.

Kalungi's son said he tried to fight the attackers, but he was overwhelmed by the numbers, with some of them trying to strangle him.

 Kalungi later asked to be taken to hospital for treatment.