Police in Uganda’s Fort Portal City’s central division in western Uganda are investigating circumstances under which Highness Impex company sales manager was shot and killed by two gunmen in Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) uniform who robbed him of an unspecified amount of money.
Police said Michael Mukonyezi, 27, was attacked at around 9:40pm near Cocoa Guest House, Rwengoma ward Central Division Fort Portal City on his way home.
Rwenzori west police spokesperson, Mr Vincent Twesige said the two robbers in army uniform waylaid and attacked Mukonyezi as he walked with a work colleague to his rented house in Kahungabunyonyi Cell.
“The bullet got Mukonyezi on the left side of the chest and he collapsed, dropping down the bag which was containing an unspecified amount of money from the sales, a mobile phone and other documents. The assailants allegedly picked the bag and ran away as his workmate also ran away but later returned with other people who rushed Mukonyezi to Fort Portal regional referral hospital where he was pronounced dead,” Mr Twesige said on Friday.
Mukonyezi’s workmate was, however, arrested for questioning as police investigates the shooting and hunt for assailants said to be at large.
Mr Twesige said cartridges and shoes were recovered from the scene of the shooting. Some witnesses have also recorded statements with police.
Related attacks
Last year similar cases of robbery and murder by shooting were reported in the Rwenzori west region that left residents living in panic.
In January 2022, Stephen Nyakahuma, 33, who was operating a retail shop and mobile money business in the Central Division of Fort Portal city along Kampala road was shot dead by an armed robber who disappeared with Shs 1.5 million and other properties.
On August 2 last year, Mr Solomon Musinguzi, 31, a businessman who was operating a mobile money shop at Mpanga market was attacked by suspected armed robbers on his way home. He was shot in the thigh before hwas robbed of Shs1 million and two mobile phones.
On August 2, another case of aggravated robbery was reported at Fort Portal central police station after armed robbers attacked the workers of Fort Bet Company in their premises in Fort Portal and ran away with Shs2.5 million.
On June 21, another case of aggravated robbery was reported at Bukuku police post where the manager of KTDS petrol station, Ms Salome Kamakumya was attacked by three people who put her at gunpoint and fled with Shs2 million.
In the 2022 police annual crime report released recently, Rwenzori west recorded 29 cases of Aggravated Robbery of cash and nine cases of murder by shooting.
