Seven arrested in Gulu city for aggravated robbery

Gulu, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Seven people are in police custody in Gulu city on allegations of aggravated robbery. The suspects are Francis Akena, Emmanuel Kinyera, Mao Badru, Aaron Bibee, Paul Nyero, Julius Onencan and Edison Onekalit, all in their late 20’s. They were arrested from Wii-Got market in Kanyagoga Parish, Bardege-Layibi division, a major hideout for criminals.

They are part of more than 20 people who waylaid a hawker identified as Idi Kanyike, who was selling merchandise along Gulu Army Secondary School road armed with machetes, knives, clubs and iron bars on Tuesday afternoon. Kanyike told URN on Wednesday that the thugs beat him up, robbed him of Shillings 110,000, 125 pairs of clothes and shoes at around 2 pm.

According to Kanyike, he raised an alarm which attracted people from the neighbourhood who rushed to the scene, beat up some of the youth and arrested seven of them. David Ongom Mudong, the Aswa River Region Police Spokesperson told URN on Wednesday that police rushed to the scene and rescued the attackers from the angry mob.

He says that one of the suspected thugs identified as Wellborn Rubangakene sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital where he breathed his last on Wednesday morning. Mudong who condemned the mob action said that the seven suspects are locked up at Gulu Central Police Station as investigations into the matter are ongoing.

Florence Atoo, the Kanyagoga Local Council one chairperson where the incident occurred says the area is experiencing a surge in criminal activities with more than 300 cases registered in the last three months. She called on the police to intensify security operations in the area because residents are living in fear for their dear lives and properties.

Last month, security picked up more than 90 people in a crackdown on criminals in a two’s days operation in the same area.

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