Police in Arua City, in West Nile sub-region, are hunting for thugs who robbed 50 million shillings from a businessman at the weekend. Muhammad Abiriga, the proprietor of Abiriga and Sons Enterprise was robbed on Saturday night by thug moving on a motorcycle.
Abiriga, whose business is along Rhinocamp road, was robbed while driving in his Carib vehicle UBB 764S Arua City at around 8 pm a few metres to Air Japan trading center, Arua City.
Josephine Angucia, the West Nile police spokesperson, said Abiriga left his workplace with two female workmates carrying 50 million shillings in a back bag going back home in Tanganyika central, Ayivu East Division, Arua City.
Angucia said before reaching the Air Japan trading center, Abiriga dropped off one of his workmates and proceeded with another. He stopped at the Air Japan shop to pick up his mother so that they could go together home.
Police said immediately after Abiriga opened the driver’s door, two men on a numberless Bajaj motorcycle arrived and opened the co-driver’s door where the bag containing the money was placed and removed it.
“Upon seeing what was happening, he tried to struggle with the men but then one who was armed started shooting at him as they were escaping and they abandoned their motorbike at the scene. Six bullets were fired at the scene and they continued shooting as they escaped towards Madi cell, Tanganyika ward, Arua City,” Angucia explained.
Police were alerted in the night but found the attackers when they had fled. Angucia said the victim was rushed to Arua Regional Referral Hospital for treatment and four cartridges were recovered from the scene.
Abiriga’s vehicle was towed to Arua City Central Division Station pending investigations together with the suspects’ numberless motorcycle. Military and police pursuit of the robbers did not yield any results.
A case of aggravated robbery has been opened under CRB 181/2023. Angucia said investigations into the robbery of Abiriga’s money have commenced. She has however urged people not to move with large amounts of cash money on their bodies as such exposes them to robbers.
“There is a need for security consciousness and vigilance amongst the business operators not to follow the same routine of movement as criminals can easily plan to rob them. We also advise the community members to do neighbourhood watch and inform the security team on those possessing illegal guns,” Angucia said.
Police annual crime report of 2022 shows 443 cases of robbery of cash were reported to the police which was a 1.6% increase compared to 436 recorded in 2021. CID figures show out of the 5.7 billion shillings lost in aggravated robbery, only 275 million shillings were recovered.