LUWEERO – A joint security team Wednesday embarked on a manhunt for an unknown assailant who shot dead a private security guard, taking his gun with him in Wobulenzi Town Council, Luweero district.
The incident occurred at around midday, when the security guard, identified as Leone Odongo, 20, who had been deployed at Advance Smart Micro Finance, Modern Zone in Wobulenzi Township, was attacked.
Ivan Ssebuufu – the area LCI Chairman narrated that eyewitnesses told him that the assailant turned up at the financial institution disguising a madman. The attacker was dressed in dirty clothes; carrying polythene bags that contained rubbish. Ssebuufu added that residents had concluded that the man was mentally – but shortly after heard gunshots and saw the same man grabbing the dead security guard’s gun moments later.
According to Ssebuufu – the first respondents at the scene of time were three unarmed Uganda Peoples Defence Forces – UPDF soldiers who were dining at a nearby restaurant. Ssebuufu noted that the three soldiers’ attempt to engage the assailant yielded no fruits – because on return from collecting their firearms from a vehicle parked metres, away – the attacker had disappeared.
An eye witness, who preferred anonymity, said the assailant picked the gun from the polythene bag, shot the security guard at close range.
Karim Kyaligamba – a resident of the area narrated how he had joined other town dwellers in pursuing the assailant but gave up when he scared them – point a gun towards their direction.
Wobulenzi Town Council Chairman – Moses Ssebalamu revealed that the assailant later dropped the gun butt; changed his dressing code before escaping into the nearby bushes.
Patrick Lule – the Savannah (Ag.) Regional Police Spokesperson noted that a joint Security team comprising Policemen and UPDF soldiers was unsuccessful in the first attempt to apprehend the attacker.
Police later, scaled-up the manhunt when a team from Luweero Central Police Station – arrived with a sniffer dog, which added no value towards the operation. The only physical value that came with the beefing up of the operation was the extra deployment of Police and UPDF personnel at the Micro Finance.
Odongo is the fifth security personnel to be killed in Luweero attacks, where assailants take-off with guns.
In July this year, four men armed with machetes overran a police checkpoint at Kiwumpa village along the Kampala-Gulu highway, hacking a PC – Josephat Twinamatsiko as well as his colleague Ronald Busingye before taking off with two guns. Busingye died on the way to Luwero hospital.
On October 31, the assailants, numbering seven and armed with an SMG rifle and pistol attacked Busiika Police Station, shooting D/I P – Alex Wagaluka, the in-charge CID and PC Moses Ongol to death. A third policeman in this attack died in Mulago hospital days later. The assailants made off with two guns.
President Yoweri Museveni recently claimed that the attacks in Luweero were linked to elements of the rebel group – Allied Democratic Forces – ADF as well as organised criminals.
Mob Murder Three Suspected Armed Robbers
Police also recovered an AK-47, from the scene of crime, which the deceased suspects were reportedly using in their robbery mission.
It is alleged that in the process, one of the slain men fired two bullets in the air with the intention of scaring away the residents but he was reportedly disarmed and the mob took advantage of an helpless group, descending onto them – killing three suspects. Two other suspects are said to have escaped to safety.
Muhammad Mudungu, – a resident of Namwendwa Trading Centre, explained that the female suspect had rented a tailoring shop one week earlier and has been keeping it locked up all day long.
“This woman has been displaying a tailoring machine and clothing outside the shop and locks up herself all day long. We were surprised to see four armed men at her house, which sparked off the mob action,” he said.
Edrine Mulumba, a wholesale shop attendant noted that residents were suspicious after seeing two brand new Motorcycles parked outside the suspect’s rented room, which prompted chaotic crowds -leading to the killing of the occupants.
Mob Sets Vehicle Ablaze
Daison Tumwesigye – the Nyarugabu cell LC I Chairperson noted that cattle theft had become rampant in the area, clarifying that more than five cows have been stolen within one week alone. He said residents had recovered several ropes from the burnt car, signifying that the thugs had invaded the area to steal cows.
Jackson Aliganyira, a resident said they are compelled to sleep out in the cold to guard their animals against theft.
He however cautioned the residents against taking the law into their hands. Police towed the wreckage of the burnt vehicle to Nyarugabu police post. In September, Police arrested 19 cattle thieves believed to have been terrorizing cattle farmers in the region.
The suspects were detained at various police stations across the region including Masindi, Kagadi, Kakumiro, Kiryandongo, Kikuube, Kibaale, and Buliisa among others. They were reportedly arrested during an operation mounted by both the police and the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces – UPDF.
