Kombucha Sales Team Ambushed, Loses Shs 5.5 Million to Imposters

A sales team from Kombucha Products Ltd fell victim to a brazen robbery on October 1, 2026, losing Shs 5.51 million in cash and other valuables. The incident took place around 5 pm along the Iganga-Kaliro road, near Kigulu trading centre in the Iganga district.

Salesman Kenneth Twinamastiko reported that he and the company driver, Damulira Waiswa, were intercepted while returning to Iganga after a day of sales in Kaliro district. Their truck was first stopped by individuals wearing URA-like reflector jackets, who demanded their driving permit and trading license. Before the situation could be resolved, three more men in army-like uniforms surrounded the vehicle.

The assailants, armed and disguised, forced Twinamastiko and Waiswa into an unregistered Toyota Wish. They were driven to a secluded area along the Iganga-Mayuge road, where their money, two mobile phones, an ATM card, and Twinamastiko’s national ID were confiscated. The victims were then abandoned on a feeder road several kilometers away.

Busoga East Regional Police spokesperson Michael Kasadha confirmed the aggravated robbery and kidnapping. He noted that this incident is part of a worrying trend of highway robberies where criminals impersonate security personnel to target traders carrying significant cash. Police have registered four similar cases and are intensifying efforts to apprehend the perpetrators through patrols and checkpoints.

Kasadha urged traders to consider using electronic payment systems to minimize the risk of carrying large sums of cash, which makes them targets for such criminals. He assured the business community that police are working to enhance their security and bring the culprits to justice.

Source: https://observer.ug/news/thugs-dressed-in-army-ura-like-uniforms-rob-kombucha-sales-team-of-shs-5-5m