Barman who recorded video of soldiers in attempted robbery, goes into hiding

Mukono, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | There is something which soldiers and LDUs properly armed with deadly assault rifles also fear – a camera. So scared were a duo caught on camera in a bar they had ‘charged’ that they fled on being alerted to its presence. But fear can be infectious as fearful men can be dangerous. So the owner of the camera has now caught the soldiers’ fear bug.

The owner of Coin Bar and Guest House located at Kikubankima in Nama sub county, whose camera captured the village defense secretary stealing money before a Uganda People’s Defense Forces soldier and LDU officer attempted jumping over the counter on Saturday night,  has now gone into hiding after recording.

Jona Muyanja, the bar owner has since yesterday fled from his home into hiding after receiving information that security agencies have picked interest in investigating the matter of the attempted robbery and his being possession of a video recording of the incident.

URN has already obtained video clips showing the village defense secretary Sulait Zziwa picking money from the counter. Also shown is a UPDF soldier and an LDU attempting to jump over the counter before they were alerted about the presence of cameras in the place.

Today, Monday, army officers from Mpoma barracks headed by Lieutenant Colonel Mathew Kalema have been on the ground asking for copies of the video footage and the whereabout of the bar attendant who was in charge of the recording.

Solomon Nkata one of the residents who was at the bar that night says when soldiers came, all workers and attendants who were watching football scattered and the soldiers took the chance of doing whatever they wanted not knowing that camera was capturing them.

Abasi Kibalama another resident at Kikubankima says on several occasions security agencies including police, army and LDU raids their area in the name of enforcing curfew and other covid-19 guidelines end up in grabbing and extorting money from residents.

The Kikubankima Local Council-LCI Chairperson Teopista Namugga says her resident (Muyanja) notified her about the robbery. She notes that Muyanja claims loosing over 500,000 Shillings in the process.

Lieutenant Colonel Kalema has declined to comment about the video recordings before they are thoroughly examined by experts. He has however, condemned the acts raised by residents of security operatives extorting money, saying whoever gets involved in such acts shall be brought to book.

********

URN