In another alarming incident, a prominent Chinese national, He Wei, fell victim to a brazen robbery in the heart of Kampala city. Riding on motorcycles, a gang of assailants seized $190,000 (approximately Shs 718 million) from Wei on Ssezibwa road in Kololo.
According to a report filed by Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP) Erasmus Matsiko, the incident occurred three days ago when Wei engaged a boda-boda (motorcycle taxi) to transport the substantial sum of money from his residence along Ssezibwa Road. The unfortunate event unfolded around 1 pm when Wei was intercepted by five motorcycle-riding thugs who forcibly grabbed his bag containing the hefty amount and swiftly fled the scene.
Surprisingly, even the boda-boda rider hired by Wei to facilitate the money transfer reportedly joined forces with the assailants, leaving Wei stranded and disillusioned. AIP Matsiko emphasized in his report that, fortunately, Wei was unharmed during the robbery.
This incident follows closely on the heels of a similar high-profile robbery targeting another Chinese national, Lee Shao, who lost Shs 200 million in an attack on Wilson road. Shao managed to fire at the escaping assailants, but his attempts were unsuccessful.
As investigations unfold, no arrests have been made, and Patrick Onyango, the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, is yet to receive a detailed briefing on the incident. The police are currently scrutinizing Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage to trace the direction taken by Wei's robbers. AIP Matsiko's report suggests suspicions that the boda-boda used by Wei might have been connected to the perpetrators.
The case has been officially recorded at Kampala Central Police Station (CPS) under CRB 2199/2023. In response to this incident, Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, issued a cautionary statement, advising against carrying substantial sums of money without adequate security, particularly for foreigners.
This latest robbery mirrors a tragic incident involving Ito Okira, a Japanese national who lost his life in a Kampala robbery last September. Okira succumbed to injuries sustained during the attack, and the perpetrators are currently remanded at Luzira Maximum Prison, facing amended charges that include murder following Okira's tragic demise. The recent surge in high-profile robberies has raised concerns about the safety and security of foreigners in the city, prompting authorities to intensify efforts to address the growing menace.
