Victim of broad daylight robbery says laptop, money, and credit card were taken

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Police have identified the victim of a broad-day robbery incident on Jinja Road as Josh Keshav, a 32-year-old Indian national.  Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) video showing Keshav being robbed by thugs who trailed him on six motorcycles has gone viral on social media.

Keshav told Nkrumah Road Police that he was attacked on Monday at Midday at Esso Corner. According to Keshav, the thugs stole his laptop and some money.

“I was punched and then pulled off the motorcycle. My laptop which I had just bought for two million, two hundred thousand shillings was taken. They also took my 150,000 Shillings and Eco Bank credit card,” Keshav reportedly said in a statement.

Keshav operates a tours and travel company located at Crown House on Kampala Road. In the video, Keshav who was wearing a white shirt is seen sitting on a motorcycle that stops because of traffic congestion. A bodied man also dressed in a white shirt and carrying a backpack is seen disembarking from one of the motorcycles that were trailing Keshav.

The man who pretended to be speaking on a mobile phone walks to the motorcycle on which Keshav was sitting and punches him on the head. In the blink of an eye, several others joined the man and they successfully grabbed whatever was possible from Keshav including his black bag.

After the robbery, more than six motorcycles are seen leaving the scene carrying at least two members of the gang. However, this incident happened when there were several on-lookers, but there was no intervention as Keshav was being robbed.

ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, the Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, said police are using CCTV to ensure the culprits are arrested and prosecuted. “A team of investigators is diligently tracing Mr Keshav’s movements from the start of his journey to the location of the incident. Numerous clues have been gathered to aid in the ongoing efforts to apprehend the suspects involved in this crime,” ASP Owoyesigyire said.

Crimes of this nature were reduced after the Flying Squad Unit and Crime Intelligence personnel killed five members of the gang between 2021 and 2022. This was before several people were robbed by motorcycle gangs on Mawanda Road in Kamwokya, Prince Charles Drive in Kololo, Buganda Road, Old Kampala, and Nsambya.

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