By A prominent gold dealer in Arua City has fallen victim to a violent robbery after two of his employees allegedly held him at knifepoint and stole gold and cash worth UGX 500 million.
The victim, 22-year-old Husmukhbhai Gadder, a resident of Arua Hospital Cell in Arua Central Division and the manager of SAGEMIN Trading Ltd, was attacked inside his office on the evening of Sunday, February 18, 2025. The suspects, identified as his Tanzanian employees, allegedly switched off the electricity before ambushing him.
According to Acting West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson Collins Asea, the assailants threatened to kill Gadder if he resisted or attempted to raise an alarm.
“They covered his mouth with cell tape, tied him to a chair using ropes, and restrained his legs before ransacking the office,” Asea said. “The suspects then stuffed the stolen gold and cash into a bag and fled the scene.”
Gadder managed to free himself approximately 30 minutes later and, in a desperate bid for help, jumped from his office towards the main gate. A passing boda-boda rider noticed him and assisted in untying him and removing the tape from his mouth. The businessman then proceeded to report the robbery at Arua Central Police Station.
Police have launched an investigation into the incident, but no arrests have been made so far. Authorities suspect the perpetrators may have had prior knowledge of the victim’s security vulnerabilities, enabling them to execute the robbery with precision.
This latest heist follows a similar attack last year, where gold dealers in Arua were targeted and UGX 420 million was stolen at gunpoint. The criminals behind that incident remain at large, raising concerns about the security of gold traders in the region.
Law enforcement agencies have urged business owners, especially those dealing in high-value commodities such as gold, to reinforce their security measures and exercise caution while handling large sums of money.
