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Her son was also attacked, assaulted, and robbed by the same mob.
A senior female officer attached to the Crime Intelligence Directorate was also attacked by the same group on the same day.The former Director of Criminal Investigations, Ms Grace Akullo, and her children were part of the people who were robbed by a flash mob that raided the city centre on Saturday during the nomination of President Museveni, this publication has learnt.
The gang members dressed in National Resistance Movement T-shirts attacked Assistant Inspector General of Police (Rtd) Akullo, robbing her of mobile phones and other items moments after she had parked her car to withdraw money from a bank near Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) offices on Shimoni Road in Kampala City.
Her son was also attacked, assaulted, and robbed by the same mob.
According to a security source, the attack left Ms Akullo’s son with a broken nose and other serious injuries. He had to be rushed to Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala for treatment.
Ms Akullo’s family is said to have been en route to Miracle Centre Cathedral to attend the Benny Hinn crusade.
This reporter was unable to talk to Ms Akullo since her mobile phones were switched off. The police also declined to comment on her case.
Ms Akullo retired from the police last year after the expiry of her contract. Unlike senior military officers, who retire with official vehicles and enjoy guard services, retired senior police officers don’t get such benefits. Most of them remain in a vulnerable state despite the sensitive offices they held.
Mobile money agents, vendors, motorists, and passers-by, among several other people, were maimed and robbed by the mob, whose action has attracted condemnation.
A senior female officer attached to the Crime Intelligence Directorate was also attacked by the same group on the same day.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesman, Mr Patrick Onyango, said they have so far arrested 31 suspects in connection with the string of robberies and assaults that happened on Saturday.
“We are continuing with the hunt down of all the suspects who participated in the criminal activities against people who had gone to witness the nomination of President Museveni. We, so far, have 31 suspects in custody,” Mr Onyango said yesterday.
Mr Onyango said the analysis of the CCTV footage is still ongoing to track down more suspects.
The suspects also attacked mobile money agents: Ms Rose Kakyo, Ms Sumaya Namutebi and Ms Alice Katusabe. Ms Kakyo lost Shs4 million and her mobile phone, while Ms Namutebi lost Shs4.02 million. Ms Katusabe was robbed of Shs4 million and her mobile phone.
However, the police haven’t yet recovered the stolen items.
In one viral video, a woman is seen being attacked during a process by a thug, who snatches her mobile phone. She was seen being dragged on the tarmac for a good distance as she wailed for help and attempted to fight off the assailants. The thug took off following the broad-day robbery as others in the process looked on.
In other videos, the gang is seen cornering and assaulting people on the streets and boasting “Tuli Bazukulu (We are President Museveni’s grandchildren).”
This is not the first time Uganda’s capital, Kampala, is witnessing such horrific attacks.
In September 2023, goons dressed in NRM T-shirts attacked unsuspecting victims during the process to celebrate President Museveni’s birthday at the Ceremonial Grounds at Kololo, Kampala City.
A Japanese infrastructure consultant attached to Kampala Capital City Authority, Okira Ito, was robbed of his bag, and as he attempted to recover it, he was attacked by the criminals along Wampewo Avenue in Kampala City. He succumbed to injuries later.
Similar incidents have happened during the swearing-in of Mr Museveni as the president.
Dozens of youths dressed in NRM T-shirts were arrested and detained at Central Police Station in Kampala City on allegations of attacking and robbing people along the roads.