Police say it will offer armed patrol escort for travelers along the Arua- Olwiyo road in a bid to check on the increasing cases of robbery on the highway
The Arua- Okwiyo road is a vital highway which also links Uganda to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Jimmy Patrick Okema, the Aswa Region Police Spokesperson says police has already secured a new land cruiser car for patrols on the road.
The police spokesman said the car was procured in October and has already been delivered to Nwoya district.
Since the beginning of this year, at least five cases of armed robbery have been recorded along the Pakwach-Olwiyo road.
The latest was in May when a Kampala- bound bus was ambushed at Ayago Bridge and passengers robbed off millions of shillings.
In October, Police in Nwoya arrested two of the suspects with an AK47 riffle and 59 rounds of live ammunition.
The assault rifle with marking UPDF GUN 56034411 is reported to belong to the army.
The two suspects, James Okello and Morris Omony, all youth in their twenties are believed to be part of the armed gang which has been terrorizing passengers on the Highway over the last two years.
The suspects were last Friday charged with being in illegal possession of firearm when they appeared before the Amuru Grade I Magistrate’s court.
Both men denied charges and were further remanded to Gulu Central Prison Station until the
In their statement to police at Nwoya Central Police Station, they said the gun belongs to a they only identified as Raymond who is still at large.
In an effort to reduce cases of armed robberies, Okello Makmot, Coordinator National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons says marking guns will make it easier to trace the origin of weapons used in robberies.
The UPDF’s Inspector of Chieftancy of Military Equipment, Lt. Col. Abdul Kasule said in the last five years, 60 percent of light weapons in the hands of UPDF personnel have been marked in a bid to guard it against theft and loss. Lt. Col. Kasule said UPDF plans to mark all its arsenals.
