Kabalagala police officers rob $30,000 from Kenyan businessman

Four officers based at Kabalagala police station have been arrested for allegedly robbing $30,000 (about Shs 114 million) from a Kenyan businessman, Muhammad Olad Abdirahman last week.

Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga identified the suspected officers as Phiona Among, Isaac Angula, Shafik Baluku, and Bernard Galenda. It all started when Muhammad and two others, sought assistance from the manager of Royal View Hotel Buziga to find the best exchange rate for their $30,000 cash.

“The hotel manager tipped off one officer, who alerted 3 others. They reached the hotel and in conspiracy with another person, identified as Okello, who was pretending to be a foreign exchange broker, caused the arrest of the victims,” explained Enanga.

The officers then reportedly bundled the victims unto a motor vehicle, drove them to Kabalagala barracks road, and eventually to another hotel garden where they allegedly robbed them of the money before releasing them.

After recounting their ordeal, the victims filed a case at the criminal investigations directorate (CID), leading to the arrest of the four officers. Searches at the officers’ homes resulted in the recovery of some dollars and other exhibits. Enanga stated that the four officers will be brought before the police disciplinary court, where they are expected to be dismissed from the force. 

Subsequently, they will be charged with aggravated robbery in the courts of law. The hunt is ongoing for the hotel manager and an individual identified as Okelo. The annual crime report of 2022 highlighted a total of 443 cases of aggravated robbery of cash reported to the police in 2022, representing a 1.6 per cent increase compared to 2021 when 436 cases were reported.