Soldier arrested over armed robbery in Nwoya

Nwoya, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Nwoya police are holding a Uganda People’s Defense Forces-UPDF soldier and his civilian accomplice on allegations of armed robbery.

The suspects are Private Ben Okite from the fifth Mountain Battalion Kabwera in Kasese district and his collaborator Sam Olum, a resident of Ngai sub-county in Oyam district.

Their arrest follows a complaint filed by Charles Odoki on June 10, at Nwoya Central Police Station vide CRB 423/2021. Odoki claimed that while clad in military uniform, the duo staged an illegal roadblock at Goro village in Lii sub county and robbed people.

David Ongom Mudong, the Aswa River Region Police Public Relations Officer told URN in an interview that after receiving the information, Field Force Unit – FFU personnel swung into action and arrested the suspects at the crime scene.

Mudong said they have contacted UPDF to establish facts about the soldier and whether or not he is one of them. He condemned the act cautioning security actors to desist from engaging in criminal activities that interfere with the peace of the post-war civilian community in Northern Uganda.

According to the Police Annual Crime Report 2020, 5,302 cases of robbery were reported compared to 6,761 cases reported in 2019 indicating a 21.5% decrease. Arua was the leading district in robberies followed by Mbarara, Kasangati and Old Kampala among the top to regions.

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