Wango Michael, a police constable (PC), had stayed at the residence of Hajj Mafabi Sulaiman Lumolo and his wife Amb. Nekesa Barbara Oundo as a home guard for close to two years.
In the process, the police officer had gained the total trust of the Lumolos, to an extent that he was privy to finer details of the family and their home in Kampala’s neighbourhood of Kyeitabya.
But the man who was entrusted to protect the family would turn into the enemy, orchestrating an aggravated robbery that shook the whole nation.
The Uganda Police Force says that Wango had all the information that the family had money in dollars and Ugandan Shillings in their house.
And so, he hatched a theatre-like plan with two other police officers (Sergeant Idro Dominic, and PC Mugoya Sharif), together with other civilians including Arinda Edgar alias Watson and Niwagaba Rogers.
Money heist day
On the day the heist was going down (in the wee hours of December 5 2023), the mastermind began preparations in earnest.
He stealthily disabled the alarm system, which was controlled and monitored by the guards at the main gate security sentry room, to avoid detection.
“He also disconnected the electric wires mounted on top of the perimeter wall, as well as the security lights around the area he had earmarked for entry. He further adjusted the CCTV cameras, to avoid capturing footages from the direction his accomplices would use,” a police report reveals.
The 18-hour wait
On the eve of the fateful day at around 10 am, Wango’s accomplices — PC Mugoya Sharif together with Arinda Edgar alias Watson and Palaso who replaced Niwagabaa — gained entry into the compound and laid in wait till 4am (December 5, 2023).
Ideally, the accomplices inflicted controlled injuries on PC Wango Michael’s head, picked the two rifles in his possession, before proceeding to the servants quarters.
At the servants quarters, they forced three maids to open the main house. After gaining entry into the main house, they then broke the 4 doors inside the house.
Bags of money!
In the house, police say the criminals located Amb. Nekesa’s from her hiding place and threatened to harm her…she had no choice but to lead them to the bedroom, where they kept their money.
All this while, her husband was not at home.
After accessing the money, they carried their loot in five (5) bags full of cash.
“They escaped through the small gate with 5 bags of cash, an Iphone 12 promax, a golden ring, DVR for CCTV system, a Techno spark 9 smart phone, a Huawei 19 mobile phone. They also disappeared with the two police guns, and 60 rounds of ammunitions, which PC Mugoya Sharif, abandoned in a potato garden, 200metres away from the residence,” the police report further reveals.
They proceeded and hid in a banana plantation, where their getaway rider – identified as Kalinda Josh – found them. At this time, they had three (3) bags in their possession, after two other bags were hurriedly dropped in the banana plantation by Arinda Edgar and Palaso, when they saw a local security guard advancing towards them with a torch.
PC Mugoya and Watson boarded one motorcycle to Nsambya Barracks with two bags of cash, as Palaso boarded another motorcycle and disappeared from his accomplices with a bag containing an unspecified amount of money.
Amb. Nekesa reported that the criminals had robbed her of Ugx 41 million (KSh1,745,580.93). Additionally, her husband Hajji Mafabi Sulaiman Lumolo reported that Ugx 2.2 billion (KSh93,826,780.06) was robbed from his safe.
In essence, the total amount stolen from the home was Ugx 2.241 billion (KSh95,575,370.05).
Sharing the loot
The police officers-turned criminals did not even wait for dust to settle before sharing the loot. On the same day, PC Mugoya distributed the two bags as follows;
- Ugx 220 million (KSh9,382,678.01) was kept for PC Wango Michael (out of which KSh852,970.73 was reserved to secure his bail in case he is charged to court). It was handed over to his uncle Basooma Emmanuel who travelled from Budongo village in Namutumba district to Nsambya barracks.
- Arinda Edgar Watson was given Ugx 200m (KSh8,529,707.28).
- The bodaboda rider was given Ugx 20m (KSh852,970.73).
- Sgt Idro Dominic, who did not participate was given Ugx 8.8m (KSh375,307.12).
- PC Mugoya Sharif kept for himself Ugx 230m (KSh9,809,163.37).
“We further established that on the 10.12.2023, a one Opio Samuel Obote, a 60 year old casual labourer, while grazing goats of his boss Matiya Rulangwa, at Kyeyitabya village, picked an unspecified amount of money together with an empty bag and a CT police uniform,” Uganda Police Spokesperson Fred Enaga told journalists.
“He kept it in a container and started spending it lavishly. His boss Matiya Rulangwa, and a one Masembe also picked some of the money. The balance was handed over to Apunyo Patrick, by Opio Samuel, and they escaped and hid in Lugazi,” Enaga added.
The 12 suspects in custody
The 12 suspects arrested were charged as follows;
i. PC Wango Michael, Arimda Edga alias Watson, PC Mugoya Sharif, Basooma Emmanuel, Niwagaba Rogers. Opio sAmuel Obote and Matiya Rulangwa, were charged with 4 counts of aggravated robbery.
ii. Ssempanga Joseph alias Mulwma, Nyiro Moses and Apunyo Patrick. Were charged with receiving and retaining suspected stolen property and then Sgt Idro Dominic was charged for being an accessory, after the fact.
All 112 suspects appeared before the Chief Magistrates court, Makindye and remanded until the 25th January 2024, for further mention of the case.
Efforts are now in place to locate a one Palaso and other accomplices, who are still at large, trace for asses bought with proceeds from the crime.
