By Twelve people, including police personnel, are being held about the theft of Shs2.2 billion from the residence of the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) treasurer, Ambassador Nekesa Barbara Oundo.
The incident happened on December 5, 2023, at approximately 04:47 PM at the home of Oundo and her husband, Hajji Mafabi Sulaiman Lumolo, in Kyeitabya zone, Bukasa parish, Makindye division in Kampala district, according to Police Spokesman SCP Fred Enanga.
The Kampala Metropolitan Area territorial police are looking into the case. Enanga claimed that PC Michael Wango, who had worked as a home guard at their residence for more than a year and a half, planned the robbery.
Along with two other police officers, Sgt. Idro Dominic and PC Sharif Mugoya, as well as two citizens, Edgar Arinda, also known as Watson, and Rogers Niwagaba devised a plan. But instead of Niwagaba, Wango, Mugoya, Arinda, and Palaso carried out the task.
Wango turned off the alarm system, which was watched over and managed by the guards at the main gate security sentry room, to avoid being discovered. In addition, he unplugged the security lights surrounding the area he had designated for access and the electric lines that were situated on top of the outer wall. To prevent recording footage from the direction his accomplices would utilize, he further adjusted the CCTV cameras.
His accomplices entered the premises at around 10 p.m. and waited until 4 a.m. After administering controlled blows to Wango’s head and seizing the two guns he was carrying, they went to the servants’ quarters and made the three maids unlock the main door. The suspects burst through all four of the interior doors after breaking into the main residence.
Nekesa, who is also the High Commissioner of Uganda to South Africa, was tracked down and found in her hiding location. After being threatened, she took them to the bedroom where their money was held. Her spouse wasn’t home.
The cash was transported by the suspects in five bags. With the suitcases, a DVR for the CCTV system, an iPhone 12 Promax, a golden ring, a Tecno Spark 9 smartphone, and a Huawei 19 mobile phone, they fled through the little gate. Along with the two police firearms and sixty rounds of ammo that Mugoya had left in a potato plot 200 meters from the house, they vanished as well.
They continued and hid in a plantation of bananas, whereupon Josh Kalinda, their rider, discovered them. Three bags were in their possession after Arinda and Palaso hastily dropped two additional bags into the banana plantation upon spotting a local security guard approaching them while brandishing a torch. While Palaso boarded another motorcycle and vanished from his accomplices carrying a bag holding an undisclosed amount of money, Mugoya and Arinda boarded one motorcycle and headed to the Nsambya barracks with two bags of cash.
Ambassador Nekesa alleged that she had been the victim of a theft of Shs41 million. Her spouse, Lumolo, filed a second complaint, claiming that Shs2.2 billion had been stolen from his safe. Shs2.241 billion was taken from the house in total.
Enanga claimed that Mugoya divided the wealth with his accomplices, giving Wango Shs220 million (of which Shs20 million was set aside to guarantee his bail should he be charged with a crime). It was given to his uncle, Emmanuel Basooma, who traveled to Nsambya barracks from Budongo village in the Namutumba district.
Arinda received Shs 200m, the Boda rider received Shs 20m, Idro, who did not take part, received Shs 8.8m, and Mugoya retained Shs 230m for himself.
On December 10, while grazing his boss Matiya Rulangwa’s goats in Kyeyitabya village, one Samuel Opio Obote, a 60-year-old casual laborer, picked up an empty bag, a CT police uniform, and an amount of money that was not mentioned. He began spending money extravagantly after keeping it in a container. A Masembe and Rulangwa also selected some cash. After Opio gave Patrick Apunyo the balance, they fled and took refuge in Lugazi.
Four counts of aggravated robbery were brought against Wango, Arinda, Mugoya, Basooma, Niwagaba, Opio, and Rulangwa. Idro was accused of being an accessory after the fact, while Ssempanga, Nyiro, and Apunyo were charged with receiving and keeping allegedly stolen valuables. The Chief Magistrates Court in Makindye heard the case of the 12 accused, who were placed under remand until January 25th.
The police are pursuing Palaso and his accomplices who are still at large.
