In a public announcement, the Kampala Police force has dismissed four of its officers, charging them with aggravated robbery following their alleged involvement in the theft of USD 30,000 (equivalent to approximately 114 million Ugandan shillings) from a Kenyan businessman. The officers, who were stationed at Kabalagala Police Station in Kampala, are accused of being in possession of the stolen funds with the intention of exchanging them for Ugandan shillings to purchase a lorry.
The four accused officers, identified as DC Among Phiona (28 years old), DC Angula Isaac (27 years old), DC Baluku Shafik (26 years old), and DC Galenda Bernard, were part of the Kabalagala Police Division, according to Police Spokesperson Mr. Fred Enanga.
Preliminary information reveals that on January 17, 2024, Muhammad Olad Abdirahman, a 37-year-old Kenyan businessman, sought assistance from the hotel manager at Royal View Hotel Buziga. Abdirahman was looking for guidance on the best forex service with a favorable exchange rate to convert the USD 30,000 he possessed for the purpose of purchasing a lorry.
Enanga explained that the hotel manager tipped off one of the officers, Adong, who subsequently informed three other colleagues. Around 4 pm, the officers, in collaboration with an individual named Okello posing as a foreign exchange broker, arrived at the hotel. Together with the hotel manager, they orchestrated the arrest of the victims. The victims were then forcefully taken to a vehicle and driven through Kabalagala barracks road to another hotel garden, where they were robbed of the USD 30,000 before being abandoned.
Following the victims' report to the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), the four officers were arrested based on the victims' testimonies. A search conducted at their residences led to the recovery of some dollars and other pieces of evidence. Efforts are currently underway to apprehend Okello and the hotel manager.
Mr. Enanga emphasized that the actions of these officers have brought disgrace to the reputation of the police force and eroded the trust of the community. He reassured the public that appropriate measures would be taken to ensure accountability, highlighting the commitment of the majority of officers who serve with integrity and pride to uphold the safety of the country.
According to the 2022 annual crime report, there were a total of 443 reported cases of aggravated robbery involving cash, representing a 1.6% increase compared to the previous year when 436 cases were reported.
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