At least 12 people including four police officers have been arrested for masterminding the robbery of shs2.4 billion from the home of Barbara Nekesa Oundo, the treasurer for the ruling NRM party.
The incident happened on December, 5 in the Kyeyitabya zone, Bukasa Parish in the Makindye division.
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According to police, the plan was hatched by Constable Michael Wango, a police guard at Nekesa’s home for the past one and half years who had during his stay been able to detect that his boss always kept huge sums of money in bags at home in US dollars and Ugandan shillings.
“Wango hatched a plan with four other police officers including Sgt Idro Dominic, PC Sharif Mugoya, together with Arinda Edgar and Nuwagaba Rogers,” Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga said on Monday.
The plan was later executed by Wango, Mugoya, Arinda, and one Pallaso( not the musician) who was a replacement for Sgt Rogers Nuwagaba who after participating in the planning, chickened out of the mission.
“To avoid detection, PC Wango who was the mastermind disabled the alarm system which was controlled and monitored by other guards at the main gate, and also disconnected the electric fence. He adjusted the security lights around the area earmarked for entry and further adjusted CCTV cameras to avoid capturing footage and pictures in the direction of his accomplices,” Enanga said.
According to police, on the night of December, 4 at around 10:00 pm, Mugoya, Arinda, and Pallaso were helped to enter Nekesa’s compound where they waited until 4:00 am to orchestrate the mission.
“They didn’t know had been captured by CCTV camera in the neighborhood while entering. To disguise the robbery, they inflicted controlled injuries on the head of Wango Michael who was on guard. They also picked two rifles which were in his possession.”
Meanwhile, the suspects who by now knew everything at home proceeded to the servants’ quarters were they found three maids and forced them to open the doors of the main house where Nekesa was staying.
However, she was found hiding in one of the rooms after being alerted by one of the maids.
The attackers later threatened to harm Nekesa, forcing her to open the door and lead them to where the money is kept.
“The suspects carried the loot in five bags which were full of cash,” Enanga said.
They also stole an iPhone Promax, a golden ring, a DVR for the CCTV camera system, a Tecno phone, a Huawei phone, and the two police guns they later dumped in one of the gardens.
Meanwhile, the suspects who first hid in one of the banana plantations were forced to flee from this hiding place when one of the local guards flashed a torch.
They left behind some bag full of money.
They later boarded their getaway motorcycle up to Nsambya police barracks with two bags whereas ‘Pallaso’ also boarded another motorcycle with the third bag.
On reporting to police, the NRM treasurer said shs41 million belonging to her and shs2.4 billion belonging to her husband and businessman, Hajji Suleiman Lumolo had been stolen.
Sharing the loot
Meanwhile, Mugoya started sharing the loot in the two bags while at Nsambya police barracks in which shs220 million was kept for Wango Michael, shs20 million of this meant for Wango’s bail in case he is charged to court.
“The shs220 million was handed to his uncle Basooma Emmanuel who travelled from Namutumba to Nsambya barracks to pick the money,” Enanga said.
He noted that shs200 million was given to Edgar Arinda whereas the boda boda rider, Josh Kalinda was given shs20 million for riding the getaway motorcycle.
Sgt Nuwagaba who chickened out of the mission after participating in its planning was given only shs8 million.
Sharif Mugoya on the other side kept shs230 million for himself.
Meanwhile, Samuel Opio Obote, a casual labourer at one of the homes nearing Nekesa’s while grazing goats, landed on an unspecified amount of money, an empty bag, and a police uniform.
“He got money and put it in a makeshift container where he was sleeping.
He started drinking and spending lavishly, prompting his boss to notice. On Checking Opio’s room, his boss realized a huge sum of money and picked some,” Enanga said.
He noted that another man identified some of the remaining money while Opio handed the remaining cash to a relative, Patrick Abinye who later took and hid him in Lugazi.
Following the arrest, only two bags of cash were accounted for, while Pallaso is on the run with another whereas the two other bags of cash are unaccounted for.
Enanga said the 12 have been charged with aggravated robbery, receiving and retaining stolen money, and being an accessory after the fact of robbery.
They have since been remanded to Luzira as the hunt for one Pallaso is ongoing.
The incident however raises more questions on how someone can keep shs2.4 billion in cash at their home and not in the bank.
