A suspected robber was shot dead and another apprehended in a foiled armed robbery targeting mobile money agents in Kitintale, a suburb of Kampala, on Thursday.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) spokesperson Patrick Onyango, the incident occurred when two armed men attacked mobile money operators Ibrahim Ssebanenya and Rashid Kyeyune at the Kitintale Trading Centre, robbing them at gunpoint of an undisclosed amount of money.
The victims managed to escape unharmed and raised an alarm, prompting members of the public to alert police at the nearby Kitintale station. Officers pursued the fleeing suspects as they attempted to escape towards Bugolobi.
During the chase, one of the robbers, identified as Farouk Matovu, was captured. His accomplice, whose identity has not yet been confirmed, reportedly refused to surrender and fired shots into the air as he fled. He was subsequently shot and killed by Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers guarding a private residence in Bugolobi.
Police recovered a rifle with two magazines from the scene.
“We are investigating the incident to determine the exact amount of money stolen,” Onyango said, adding that the suspect in custody will aid further inquiries.
This latest incident underscores growing concerns about the safety of mobile money agents, who have increasingly become targets for armed criminals. Stakeholders have repeatedly called for stronger protection measures, including enhanced police presence and regulatory support to protect mobile money operators.
