The East African Gazette
Kampala
In a successful intelligence-led surveillance, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has achieved a significant breakthrough by apprehending the main suspect connected to the theft of shs2.2bn from the residence of Hajji Sulaiman Mafabi Lumolo, the husband of the former Ambassador Barbara Nekesa Oundo, in Kyeyitabya Bukasa Parish, Makindye Division, Kampala district.
It is worth noting that Nekesa is the treasure for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
The robbery occurred on December 5, 2023.
The suspect, identified as Ivan Lukungu, also known as Pallaso, was tracked and arrested in Masaka City, where he resides.
After three days of intensified surveillance, the authorities successfully apprehended him along Edward Street in Masaka.
With this arrest, the total number of individuals detained in connection with the case now stands at 13. Among them are 12 other individuals including four police officers who have since been charged with aggravated robbery and remanded to Luzira Prison after appearing before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Makindye.
During further interrogation, the suspect confessed to his involvement in the Muyenga robbery and revealed that he had received shs120 million as his share of the loot.
He disclosed that he used a portion of the money to purchase a Toyota Harrier for shs62 million, a restaurant for shs10 million, a house in Nyendo Mukude for shs20 million, a plot of land along Nabugabo Road in Masaka for shs15 million, and an electronic shop for shs16 million.
According to the police spokesperson, Fred Enanga, the suspect was transferred to Kabalagala police division for further legal proceedings.
At the time of his arrest, it is alleged that he had already spent shs123 million.
Lukungu, who worked as a boda boda rider and assisted in transporting the loot, had been evading capture since the robbery took place.
How the plan was hatched
According to the investigation, the couple had a significant amount of money in both Ugandan shillings and US dollars, which was known to the police officer, Michael Wango, who was working as the Chief Security Officer for a year and a half at the residence.
Wango allegedly collaborated with other officers, including Sgt Sharif Mugoya, Edgar Arinda, Rogers Nuwagaba, and Dominic Ingiro, as well as a boda boda rider named Josh Kalinda, who was on standby for their escape. The robbery was carried out on December 5, 2023.
To avoid detection, Wango, being the Chief Security Officer, disabled the alarm system controlled by the guards, disconnected the electric wire on the fence, and tampered with the security lights and CCTV cameras.
On the evening of December 4th, 2023, Police Constable (PC) Sharif Mugoya, Isaac Arinda, and a certain individual named Pallaso, who had replaced Dominic Ingiro, managed to enter the premises and patiently waited for nearly six hours until approximately 4am. Unknown to them, their actions were being recorded by a nearby CCTV camera.
According to the police spokesperson, Fred Enanga, the officers-turned-thugs initially inflicted controlled injuries on the guard, Wango, to create the illusion of an attack. They then proceeded to seize two rifles that were in his possession.
Subsequently, they coerced the maids into leading them to the main house. Once inside, they eventually discovered the ambassador who was hiding.
It is alleged that upon reaching her, they compelled her to reveal the location of the money. As a result, they absconded with five bags of cash, the DVR of the security cameras, and an iPhone promax.
They also discarded the two guns in a nearby potato garden.
Investigations revealed that, as they departed around 5am, they initially sought refuge in a banana plantation.
From there, PC Edgar Arinda and Isaac Mugoya hastily boarded Josh Kalinda’s motorcycle, who was waiting with two bags of money.
Meanwhile, Pallaso, a civilian, took a different route on another motorcycle, carrying three bags of cash.
Interestingly, due to the unexpected appearance of a security guard who shone a light on their hiding spot in the banana plantation, the suspects were forced to abandon two bags of cash out of sheer panic.
The next day, the Ambassador made a report stating that she had lost sh41 million, while her husband was allegedly robbed of sh2.2 billion.
It has been discovered through investigations that PC Sharif Mugoya was responsible for distributing the stolen money.
He initially called upon Emmanuel Basooma from Namutumba district, who happens to be the uncle of Micheal Wango, the mastermind behind the robbery.
Mugoya handed him sh220 million, with 20 million of that amount intended for bail in case of an arrest. PC Arinda received sh200 million, PC Mugoya received sh200 million, Josh Kalinda (a boda boda man) received sh20 million, and Sgt Ingiro was given sh8.8 million.
Another, only identified as Pallaso, allegedly disappeared with an unspecified amount of money.
Further investigations revealed that a casual laborer named Samuel Opio, aged 60, had reportedly picked up an unspecified amount of money while tending to goats in the same village where the robbery occurred.
He kept the money in his makeshift house and began spending it recklessly, which raised suspicions from his boss, Matia Lulangwa.
Lulangwa decided to investigate the source of the cash and discovered an unspecified amount of money in Opio’s makeshift house.
Lulangwa seized the money, along with other neighbors. The remaining balance was given to a relative who hid Opio in Lugazi, Buikwe district.
Meanwhile, all the police officers involved, including Michael Wango, Edgar Arinda, Mugoya Sharif, and four others, were arrested and charged with four counts of robbery.
They were remanded to prison after appearing in Makindye Magistrate Court.