Summary:

• Four officers from Kampala’s Kabalagala Police Station were dismissed and charged with aggravated robbery after allegedly stealing $30,000 from a Kenyan businessman. The officers intended to exchange the money for Ugandan shillings to buy a lorry.

The Kampala Police force has publicly dismissed four of its officers with disgrace, charging them with aggravated robbery in connection with the theft of USD 30,000 (approximately 114 million shillings) from a Kenyan businessman. These officers, stationed at Kabalagala Police Station in Kampala, allegedly possessed the stolen funds, intending to exchange them for Ugandan shillings to purchase a lorry.

The accused officers, identified by Police Spokesperson Mr. Fred Enanga 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 preliminary information gathered, on January 17, 2024, Muhammad Olad Abdirahman, a 37-year-old Kenyan businessman, sought accommodation at Royal View Hotel Buziga. During his stay, Abdirahman asked the hotel manager for assistance in identifying the best forex with an optimal exchange rate for USD 30,000 in their possession, earmarked for purchasing a lorry.

Enanga explained that the hotel manager tipped off one officer (Adong), who informed three other colleagues. Around 4 pm, they arrived at the hotel and, in collaboration with Okello, posing as a foreign exchange broker and the hotel manager, orchestrated the arrest of the victims. Subsequently, the victims were forced into a vehicle, driven through Kabalagala barracks road to another hotel garden, where they were robbed of the USD 30,000 and then expelled.

After reporting the incident to the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), the victims’ testimony led to the arrest of the four officers. A search at their homes resulted in the recovery of some dollars and other pieces of evidence. Efforts are now underway to apprehend Okello and the hotel manager.

Mr. Enanga emphasized that the actions of these officers have tarnished the reputation of the police force and eroded community trust. He assured that accountability measures would be taken, underscoring the commitment of the majority of officers who serve with pride and integrity to ensure the safety of the country.

The 2022 annual crime report highlighted 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.