UPDF joins hunt for men who kidnapped, robbed Pakistan national

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda People’s Defence Forces-UPDF have joined the hunt for men in military uniform who were captured on camera kidnapping a Pakistan National in Kireka.

Rafik Khan, who was dumped in Kasangalabi along Kayunga-Mukono road, opened a case of abduction and robbery at Kireka police station which has since been taken over by Kira Division police headquarters.

Col Deo Akiiki, the Deputy Army Spokesperson said they have picked interest to establish the identities of the people in the video. But Akiiki said they cannot conclude whether it was a lawful operation or a kidnap that turned into robbery as it is being reported.

“One thing we should desist is concluding that it was a kidnap. Every person is regarded as kidnapped or abducted. So when does a security personnel arrest? There should be all ways of making arrests and this is the world over. But a statement will be given if it all it was a security agency involved,” Akiiki said.

Khan’s kidnap which is now being investigated as aggravated robbery happened on Thursday at 5pm along Kamuli road, Namugongo division, Kira municipality, adjacent to Kireka Grammar Nursery and Primary School.

Luke Owoyesigyire, the Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson said Khan was stopped by a group of people among whom two were wielding SMGs and donning military attire while others were casually dressed.

The video shows Khan being pulled from the driver’s seat and bundled into the boot of his motor vehicle, a Probox registration number UBM 877B. The kidnappers according to Owoyesigyire, drove off via the Northern by-pass.

“The unidentified assailants later abandoned the victim at Kasangalabi along Kayunga-Mukono road. We have recorded Mr. Khan’s statement and established that he was robbed of 300 USD, 700,000 Shillings, and his two Samsung smart phones,” Owoyesigyire said.

Police with the help of Closed Circuit Television-CCTV cameras have established that the attackers were allegedly dropped off by a Toyota fielder and stood in wait for their target.

Police are currently using CCTVs to establish the car’s movement up to the point where Khan was dumped.

The Kireka incident comes a fortnight after six soldiers were arrested with the help of sniffer dogs from Wakiso policing division over a robbery roadblock mounted at Kyoga swamp. The soldiers were attached to Namusera military detach.

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