Suspected armed robber dies in police custody

Locals and police officers at Iganga Police Station where the suspect died. Photo by Yazid Yolisigira

What you need to know:

  • The Busoga East police Publicist, James Mubi, said the suspect's body was found hanging in the police cells. 

  • Police declined to divulge more information about the incident.

  • Mr Mubi said that before the suspect died, Police searched his home at Namuningi Village, Nabwigulu Sub-county in Kamuli District and arrested a man suspected to have been an accomplice in the robbery.

IGANGA. The Police in Iganga District are investigating circumstances under which a suspected armed robber on Friday night died while in detention at Iganga Police Station. 

The suspect was part of the three robbers who on Wednesday morning robbed Shs95m from a beverage warehouse belonging to Nile Company along Kaliro Road in Iganga Town. 

The employees of the warehouse were taking the money to the bank before they were stopped and robbed by the thugs at a gunpoint.

After the robbery, the trio abandoned their get-away car by the roadside at Igamba village in Iganga Municipality and vanished into a nearby sugarcane plantation as police pursued them. 

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In the ensuing shootout with Police that lasted about nine hours, Police say they managed to arrest one suspect from whom they recovered part of the heist amounting to Shs41m. 

Another suspect was shot dead that evening while the third escaped with a gun. 

The Busoga East police Publicist, James Mubi, said the suspect's body was found hanging in the police cells. 

Police declined to divulge more information about the incident.

Mr Mubi said that before the suspect died, Police searched his home at Namuningi Village, Nabwigulu Sub-county in Kamuli District and arrested a man suspected to have been an accomplice in the robbery.

“The suspect had recorded a statement and given us some vital leads that led us to arrest a suspect in Kamuli, believed to have run away with the smoking gun,” Mr Mubi said.

By press time the deceased was being taken to Iganga hospital mortuary as investigation continue.