The Uganda Police Force has come out to explain a disturbing incident where a group of thugs violently stole money from an engineer in the public glare, after a CCTV footage capturing the whole scene went viral recently.

Authorities say that the incident along Buganda Road in Kampala occurred in 2022, and that the robbers targeted the engineer who was carrying cash.

The thugs targeted the engineer who was carrying 30 million UGX (approximately KSh1.025 million) in his bag, according to Deputy Police Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire.

“Although the victim managed to escape, the suspects successfully seized the money. Our investigations identified the perpetrators as Abdullamani Bakata alias Pancho, Emmanuel Nsubuga, Augustine Wanandya, and Ivan Muwanda,” Owoyesigyire says.

Authorities authorities sat that the same group of thugs was connected to another violent robbery involving Mr. Dawit Kasa, a diplomat from the Ethiopian Embassy. This incident occurred on February 25, 2022, along Prince Charles Avenue in Kololo.

In this particular incident, Owoyesigyire says the assailants robbed Mr. Kasa of 2.8 million UGX and a laptop, leaving him unconscious.

“In response to these criminal activities, the Kampala Metropolitan Police, in collaboration with the Flying Squad, conducted several operations. These efforts led to the apprehension of the suspects mentioned above and the recovery of multiple items, including motorcycles, 20 mobile phones, ATM cards, and identification documents from various victims,” the police boss reveals.

He adds: “During an operation in Kisenyi, one gang member, identified as Alipanda, was neutralized. The suspects are now on remand at Luzira Prison, awaiting trial.”

The police has assured the public that they remain vigilant and proactive in “our fight against crime.”

“Many of the videos circulating on social media related to these incidents are outdated and have been effectively addressed by our law enforcement actions. To further ensure public safety, we have intensified street patrols and enhanced our surveillance capabilities with advanced CCTV systems. We urge the public to stay calm and to report any suspicious activities to the authorities.”