MBALE – A mobile money agent operating in Mbale Town is currently admitted to a clinic after he was shot several times by gunmen riding on a motorcycle on Tuesday evening.
Andrew Kiboma, 26, who operates a kiosk in Kikamba-Mooni Trading Centre, was attacked on his way to Zesui cell, Mukuwu ward in Wanale division, where he resides at around 10 pm.
Witnesses told this website that a scuffle ensued as Kiboma refused to hand over the bag containing money to the attackers.
Consequently, witnesses said they were attracted to the scene by an alarm raised by Kiboma. However, they found he had been shot several times in the abdomen by the fleeing gunmen who are said to have behind the bag containing money.
Acting Elgon Region Police spokesperson Robert Tukei confirmed the incident and said detectives are hunting for the suspects.
He said preliminary investigations indicate that the robbers had been trailing the victim for some time.
The Mbale District Police Commander, Mr Mathias Turyasingura, said investigations are ongoing.
“We are investigating the matter to make sure we arrest the culprits, and also to recover that gun used in the shooting,” Mr Turyasingura said.
“We highly believe that these robbers were given hard times in Kampala and now they have shifted to upcountry. But police will not give them any space to operate,” he said.
He explained that police have registered two similar incidences in Mbale in a period of two weeks.
“In both cases, weapons used were different. The first incident in Nakaloke, they used a pistol and this one was an AK47. We picked the cartridges at the scene of the robbery,” he said, adding that no suspects had been arrested but a team of detectives are still looking at a number of leads.
Mr Turyasingura said the victim will undergo an operation to remove the bullets from his stomach.
Mr Turyasingura said the intelligence information indicates that the robbers are targeting mobile money businesses that close late in the night.
“We appeal to mobile money business to close as early as pm,” he said, adding that they should also stop carrying a lot of money in their bags.
Two weeks ago, armed thugs attacked and robbed Shs 1.9 million from a mobile money agent in Nakaloke Town Council in Mbale district.
