Jinja: Suspected armed assailants reportedly raided a branch of Pride Microfinance in Buwenge Town Council, Jinja District, on Friday, November 22, 2024. The robbers allegedly broke into the highly protected facility in the early hours of the morning, around 4 a.m.
The suspects are said to have cut a hole in the roof of the Pride Microfinance building after evading the facility’s security. They made off with two laptop computers and DVR hard drives, which control the CCTV cameras on the premises.
The police, led by the DPC (District Police Commander) of Central Police Station Buwenge, SP Morris Oyee, responded swiftly to the crime scene. The coordinated operation involved police officers working in unison to manage the situation.
“The suspected armed robbers gained entry by cutting a hole in the roof, scanning the inside, and disabling the CCTV cameras,” said SP James Mubi, Kiira Region police spokesperson.
Mubi explained that safe deposit boxes and two firearms belonging to private security guards assigned to Saracen Uganda Limited, who provide security for the facility, were spared from the robbers.
“Their initial target was money and firearms, but their efforts were unsuccessful. The room containing the safe deposit boxes was not tampered with, thus preventing the theft of millions of shillings,” Mubi noted.
He emphasized that “The robbers’ efforts were thwarted due to the quick response and command of the area DPC, SP Morris Oyee, as well as the deployment of a police dog to the scene.”
Two suspects, whose identities have been withheld, are currently in detention at CPS Buwenge, where they are assisting police with vital information regarding the incident.
In a related incident, on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, two unknown assailants attacked and shot Calvin Abia, a private security guard assigned to Ultimate Security Limited at the MTN Service Center in the same area.
According to the police, the attackers opened fire on Abia after he left his assigned post at EV Assets Management Company Limited to check on his colleagues, who had been surrounded by the assailants at the MTN Service Center.
Following these recent incidents, the police are urging authorities overseeing premises such as factories, hotels, and banks that store valuable documents and cash to install reliable sensors that monitor the entire surface of their rooftops.
Mubi stated that such measures could potentially minimize damage and prevent criminals from accessing the roof area, thereby making it harder for them to infiltrate the premises.
