Police in Mukono District have arrested two suspects in connection to an aggravated robbery on a supermarket in Mukono District.
The thugs are part of a bigger racket that raided Spice Supermarket with guns at Ku Ssatu, in Namubiru ward, Mukono Central Division in Mukono Municipality on June 25,.2022 at night.
The thugs on Friday attacked the supermarket with an AK47 rifle, shot and injured the cashier before robbing an unspecified amount of money. Other customers fell to the ground after they heard gunshots.
The suspects have been identified as Mugalu William, 24-, a resident of Nasuuti cell, Ntawo ward, Mukono Central and Mbogo Sam, 23, a resident of Nasuuti cell, Ntawo ward, Mukono municipality.
According to police spokesperson Fred Enanga, the suspects were clearly identified by one of the victims at the supermarket.He says the thugs were sighted on the eve of the robbery while drinking at Cloud 9 bar, annexing the supermarket.
Enanga explains that the thugs were captured by joint security agencies including the Flying Squad Unit and Mukono Police and a hunt is now on for the gun used in the crime and other members of the gang, who, he says, appeared to be a professional team, looking at how swift they were.
He adds that a team of counselors from CID Headquarters has been dispatched to offer counseling services to the cashier, after a gun was pointed to her head.
“ We thank her for doing the right thing by doing exactly what the thugs asked her to do, when they forced her to open the till and put all the cash in their bag.
Enanga has warned that although attacks on supermarkets have not been so regular, there is a rise in retail crimes on supermarkets, mobile money points, retail shops, markets among others.
He attributes this trend to high levels of unemployment among the youth, use of drugs, change in criminal tactics, where robbers attack softer targets with lesser security, such as supermarkets and the opportunity of get-away.
Enanga further says the thugs have adapted to using guns, knives, machetes, screw drives and other sharp objects.
“Unless the several problems are backed, retail businesses continue to be under threat, which calls for the need to boost security measures such as deployment of sufficient private security guards, CCTV, body cameras, activating alarms and connecting them to police stations.” He explains
