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The Joint Security Agencies have reported a significant increase in targeted attacks on mobile money dealers and banking agents, leading to growing concerns over the safety of these individuals. Various incidents of robberies involving armed individuals on motorcycles have been recorded, resulting in the theft of cash, mobile phones, and other valuables.

According to Enanga, the attacks are usually follow-home and front-gate attacks and physical/direct attacks at the premises, and while in transit to and from the banks.

“This calls for vigilance, alteration of routine patterns, target hardening in the form of guards and escort services, and a reduction or avoidance of late-night movements,” he said.

For instance, Enanga revealed, on June 14, at around 7:20pm, 3 unknown gunmen attacked Girisa’s shop at Lodongo main market, Lodongo town council in Yumbe district, and robbed cash and a mobile phone before getting away on a motorcycle.

On June 13, at around 8:30pm, a one Brian Nkalubo, a 31-year-old mobile money agent at Kinawa Charles trading center, Bandwe cell, Kasenge ward, Kyengera town council, was attacked by 2 armed masked men and robbed Shs 1.5 million, 2 mobile phones, and fled on a motorcycle towards Nalumunye.

On June 14, one Charles Mutabazi, a 38-year-old, businessman of Pece African Quarters, was attacked at around 8:30pm while closing his place of agent banking. He resisted and fought them, prompting the robbers to fire shots in the air and robbed 8 agent banking machines of diff banks and cash. The victim was rushed to hospital for treatment. Exhibits of a rusted AK47 were recovered, a magazine, 2 cartridges and a jacket were recovered.

Again, on June 15 at around 10.30pm, one Sylivia Ndagire, a mobile money agent of Kitemu trading centre was trailed by ride-along robbers, who attacked her immediately after she was dropped at the access road to her home in Kuminemu zone, Nsangi ward, Kyengera Town Council. They grabbed her handbag containing 3m and 2 mobile phones. She made an alarm which prompted, gunshots that partly injured her. She was rushed to Victor Medical Center Nsangi for First Aid.

On June 17 at around 3pm, one Moses Mushabe, a 46-year-old businessman of Katanabirwa village, Kyenda sub-county in Kyankwanzi district was invited to Kampala by Brian Muwonge, a hand broker and neighbour in the village, after allegedly getting for him land to buy. The victim set off on June 18 at around 10am, with Shs30m up to Nansana. Muwonge called two boda boda to take the victim to witness the land in Bweyogerere while in an isolated place in Bweyogerere, they turned against him and robbed the bag with cash. The matter was reported at Bweyogerere Police Station.