Iganga: Assailants kill guard, make away with gun

IGANGA | A security guard at a fuel station in Iganga District was bludgeoned to death and his gun taken last evening.

Mr Eria Byandala, attached to Saracen Security Group, was hit with a blunt by unidentified assailant, who made away with his gun and a motorcycle.

The deceased was guarding at Nesta pump station located along Iganga-Kaliro Road in Silver Ward, Iganga northern division in Iganga Municipality.

The supervisor of a supermarket at the petrol station, Ms Martha Namugwana, said they reported at around 3am, they received a signal from a pump attendant to lock up the supermarket after the raid by the thugs at the fuel station.

She says they had two security guards at the moment and that the second guard survived without harm.

“Our colleague who was at the pump made a signal for us to lock the supermarket and we wouldn’t understand what he meant," Ms Namugwana said.

"Immediately someone came and ordered us to surrender and lie down before asking the lady who works at the counter to go and bring the money."

The perpetrators reportedly confiscated phones from all workers at the station and put them at gunpoint and asked for the money.

The amount of money which was stolen has not been specified, according to the workers who spoke to this publication.

“He ordered us to pack all the money in a polythene bag and asked for our phones," Namugwana  said.

"He had a gun and he had already killed the guard. I don’t know the amount of money which was stolen but the accountant will give us the actual figure. He also went with a motorcycle which was in the parking lot."

Mr Sula Wadulu, a pump attendant, locked himself in the pit-latrine when the thugs attacked.

“I was in a Toyota Wish and heard a bang and I rushed to the supermarket and told the attendants to close. I locked myself in the pit-latrine but they were looking for me," Wadulu said.

"The security we have here was a bit weak and I call upon our bosses to strengthen the security here because some criminals target these places."

The vice chairperson of the village, Mr Juma Isabirye, said the deceased was killed using a hoe and other blunt objects before robbing the fueling station of valuables and money.

Some of the leaders in the area told the Nile Post that they have been facing cases of insecurity and theft.

Ms Angella Kagoya, the municipal councillor for Bugumbal, said it was "very unfortunate" to learn about the sad news of killing of a guard and the robbery at the fuel station.

The Busoga East police spokesperson Ms Diana Nandawula said investigation into the matter has began.