UPDF hunting for men who kidnapped, robbed Pakistan national

Rafik Khan, who was allegedly kidnapped and then dumped in Kasangalabi along Kayunga-Mukono road, opened a case of abduction and robbery at Kireka police station.

The case is now being handled by Kira Division police headquarters, with the help of the UPDF.

Col Deo Akiiki, the Deputy UPDF Spokesperson, said the army wants to establish the identities of the alleged kidnappers in the video. However, Akiiki said the army cannot jump to any conclusions by stating for certain that the said incident was a lawful operation or a kidnapping that turned into robbery.

“One thing we should desist is concluding that it was a kidnap. Every person is regarded as kidnapped or abducted. So when does a security personnel arrest? There should be all ways of making arrests and this is the world over. But a statement will be given if it all it was a security agency involved,” Akiiki said.

Khan’s alleged kidnapping, now being investigated as aggravated robbery, happened on Thursday at 5pm along Kamuli road, Namugongo division, Kira municipality, adjacent to Kireka Grammar Nursery and Primary School.

Luke Owoyesigyire, the Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, said Khan was accosted by a posse of persons among whom two were wielding submachine guns (SMGs) while decked out in military attire, as the others were turned out in civilian wear.

The video shows Khan being yanked from the driver’s seat, then bundled into the boot of his motor vehicle, a Probox registration number UBM 877B. The alleged kidnappers, according to Owoyesigyire, drove off via the Northern by-pass.

“The unidentified assailants later abandoned the victim at Kasangalabi along Kayunga-Mukono road. We have recorded Mr. Khan’s statement and established that he was robbed of 300 USD, 700,000 Shillings, and his two Samsung smart phones,” Owoyesigyire said.

Police, with the aid of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, have established that the alleged kidnappers were allegedly dropped off by a Toyota fielder and thereafter lay in wait for Khan.

Police are using CCTVs to establish the ‘kidnapper’s car’s movements until the point where Khan was dumped.

The Kireka incident arrives on the heels of a similar incident which occurred a fortnight ago.

In that previous incident, six soldiers were arrested with the help of sniffer dogs from Wakiso policing division over a robbery roadblock mounted at Kyoga swamp. The soldiers were attached to Namusera military detach.