KAMPALA- A boda-boda rider who was shot while trying to save Albert Tugume Cook, a 33-year-old mobile money operator, has also succumbed to his injuries at Mulago Hospital.
Cook was gunned down in Kiwatule’s central zone along the Ntinda-Kiwatule road. Albert Tugume Cook, was the brother of Kampala Deputy Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura. He operated a mobile money and bank agent shop.
Sabiti Banabas, a 30-year-old boda-boda rider at Kiwatule Muvule stage, was shot while trying to save his friend and client, Tugume, whom he had been transporting to and from work for many years. Tugume was preparing to close his shop when he was attacked by an assailant intent on robbing him of his cash.
Tugume attempted to flee but was pursued and fatally shot by the assailants, who made away with a bag believed to have contained an unspecified amount of cash. During the scuffle, Banabas, attempted to intervene but was shot by another armed assailant waiting nearby.
Paul Kibilige, the local area councillor, said the shooting sent everyone running for cover. When the shooting stopped, they came to find out but found Tugume lying in a pool of blood in a nearby open fence where he was followed and killed there.
He explains that they also recovered Banabas, who was still alive, and rushed him to a nearby clinic, but the clinic advised them to proceed to Mulago Hospital where they would get treatment for bullet injuries.
He further explained that they also found Banabas, who was still alive, a few meters away from the scene. They rushed him to a nearby clinic, but were advised to take him to Mulago Hospital, which is better equipped to treat bullet wounds.
“We arrived at Mulago Hospital around 10:00 pm, but unfortunately, Banabas succumbed to his injuries at around 1:00 am. He had sustained severe injuries from two bullets to the chest,” Kibilige recounted.
According to Kibilige, this incident marks the third robbery of mobile money shops in Kiwatule’s central zone within the past three months. “In September, armed thugs raided a mobile money shop in Kiwatule centre, making off with all the cash,” Kibilige recalled. “Last month, another group of thugs, also riding motorcycles, targeted several shops in the area. Kibilige said”.
Neighbors near the crime scene, who were visibly distraught, are urging the government to increase security measures ahead of the upcoming festival season. They expressed concerns that without adequate security, similar robberies are likely to occur.
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Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire said that police investigators have recovered critical evidence at the scene of crime that will aid in the ongoing investigation. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Tugume and Barnabas during this difficult time.
The Kampala Metropolitan Police remains committed to bringing the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice. We urge members of the public with any information that could assist in the investigation to come forward” Owoyesigyire said.
