Police are currently investigating an aggravated robbery that occurred on January 4, 2025, at approximately 10:30 AM, where a businessman, Baracka Francis, was robbed of over UGX 30 million, an ATM card, and identification documents by a group of boda boda cyclists at the intersection of 5th Street and Mutabazi Lane in Kampala.
According to Patrick Onyango, the spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan Police, Baracka had just withdrawn the money from a KCB Bank branch on 6th Street in Kampala when the assailants, who were wearing masks and riding motorcycles, threatened him with a machete before ambushing him.
Onyango noted that it was routine for Baracka to visit the bank every morning between 10 AM and 11 AM to withdraw cash, which was a predictable schedule that made him a target for the thieves.
In light of this incident, Onyango advised business owners to vary their routines to avoid drawing attention. He also recommended that individuals transporting large sums of money consider hiring police escorts or private security for added protection.
“If you are going to move with large sums of money from one place to another, you can seek police escorts or private security guards that can be hired to provide security for the money,” Onyango stated during a media briefing at the police headquarters in Naguru on January 6, 2025.
While law enforcement agencies actively address these criminal activities, the cultivation of community awareness and the implementation of preventative strategies are paramount in mitigating future risks and safeguarding the security of individuals involved in financial transactions.
