Uganda police has kicked off search for one Pallaso in connection with the aggravated robbery of Ugx 2.241 billion shillings from the residence of NRM treasurer Ambassador Barbra Nekesa Oundo. The incident unfolded last month when a group of thugs raided her home in Bukesa,
Makindye Division.Twelve suspects, including a police officer identified as Wango Michael, have appeared before the Makindye magistrate court and have been remanded to Luzira prison until January 25, 2023.
On December 5, 2023, criminals forcibly entered Ambassador Barbra Nekesa’s home, making off with an unspecified amount of money, later confirmed to be Ugx 2.241 billion.
According to a report released today by Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson, their investigations revealed that the robbery was meticulously planned by Wango Michael, a police officer guarding Ambassador Barbra Nekesa’s home.
This plan unfolded after Wango Michael discovered that his principal, together with her husband Sulaiman Mafabi Lumoro, a business man, kept large sums of money, including Ugandan Shillings and Dollars.
Enanga detailed that Wango Michael collaborated with four other police officers – Mugoya Sharifu, Igro Dominic, Arinda Edgar alias Waston, and Niwagaba Rogers.
On December 5, the group, consisting of Wango Michael, Mugoya Sharifu, Igro Dominic, Arinda Edgar, Pallaso (replacing Niwagaba Rogers), and Karinda Josh waiting on a boda boda rider, successfully executed the mission.
During the attack, the suspects inflicted controlled wounds on Wango Michael to create the illusion of an external attack.
Fred Enanga confirmed that the suspects fled with five bags filled with cash from Ambassador Barbra Nekesa and hid in a nearby banana plantation.
Two bags were taken by Mugoya Sharifu and Wango Michael, while the third bag was taken by Pallaso. Pallaso also left two bags in the banana plantation after an unknown security guard attempted to intervene with a flashlight.
The investigation established that a total of Shs 2.241 billion was stolen from Ambassador Barbra Nekesa’s home, with Shs 41 million belonging to her and Shs 2.2 billion to her husband Hajji Sulaiman Mafabi.
Enanga further explained that Mugoya Sharif began sharing the loot in the two bags at Nsambya police barracks. Shs 220 million was reserved for Wango Michael, with Shs 20 million earmarked for Wango’s potential bail in case of charges.
“He explains that Shs 220 million was handed to his uncle Basoma Emmanuel, who traveled from Namutumba to Nsambya barracks to pick up the money,” says Enanga.
He adds that Shs 200 million was given to Edgar Arinda, while the boda boda rider, Josh Kalinda, received Shs 20 million for riding the getaway motorcycle.Sgt Nuwagaba, who withdrew from the mission after participating in its planning, was given only Shs 8 million.
On the other hand, Sharif Mugoya kept Shs 230 million for himself.However, Samuel Opio Obote, a casual laborer near Nekesa’s home grazing goats, stumbled upon two bags full of an unspecified amount of money and a police uniform.
“He got money and put it in a makeshift container where he was sleeping. He started drinking and spending lavishly, prompting his boss to notice. On checking Opio’s room, his boss realized a huge sum of money and picked some,” Enanga said.
Opio handed the remaining cash to a relative, Patrick Abinye, who drove him away and hid him in Lugazi.
Following the arrest, only two bags of cash were accounted for, while Pallaso is on the run with another. The whereabouts of the other two bags of cash remain unaccounted for.
Credit: Capital FM.