DANIEL MUMBYA: Five armed men wearing military-style uniforms and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) reflector jackets kidnapped two employees of a kombucha drinks company and robbed them of Shs5.51 million in sales on the Kigulu–Nakalama road in Iganga District.
The attack occurred on Thursday at about 5pm at Kigulu Trading Centre in Bukaye Parish, Nakalama Sub-county, according to police. The victims were identified as Waiswa Damulira, 40, a driver, and Twinamasiko Kenneth, 32, a salesman attached to the company’s Iganga branch.
Police said the two were returning to their base after delivering drinks in Kaliro, Bulumba and Buyuge, where they had collected Shs5,510,000 in sales. According to police, the suspects, who were travelling in a white Toyota Wish, intercepted the company’s white Toyota Hiace, registration number UA 126DJ.
Two of the suspects were reportedly dressed in civilian clothes and wore URA reflector jackets, while the other three wore uniforms resembling those of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). One of them was armed with a rifle. The attackers allegedly forced the two employees out of the Hiace, bundled them into the Toyota Wish and drove towards Mayuge District.
They reportedly robbed the victims of the cash, a Samsung smartphone, an Itel phone, an ATM card and a national identity card before abandoning them in Mayuge. The victims later reported the incident to police, according to Busoga East police spokesperson ASP Michael Kasadha.
Police recovered and secured the abandoned Hiace at the scene for forensic examination. Kasadha expressed concern over what he described as the re-emergence of highway robberies targeting business people. “We note with concern the re-emergence of highway robberies targeting business people using a similar modus operandi: Toyota Wish, military-like attire and interception on highways,” Kasadha said.
He said intelligence teams in Iganga, Mayuge, Bugiri and Namutumba districts had been alerted to trace the vehicle and establish whether the suspects were linked to similar incidents recently reported in the region. Police have also intensified operations, including snap checks at Magamaga, Nakalama, Mayuge and Bugiri. Motorcycle patrol squads and quick-response teams have been deployed along major highways.
Kasadha urged business operators to avoid travelling with large sums of cash late in the evening and to report suspicious vehicles to the authorities. The case was registered at Iganga Central Police Station under SD Ref. 125/01/10/2026. Police said statements had been recorded from the victims.