Obongi — Police in Obongi District are searching for six suspects believed to be part of a gang linked to a series of armed robberies after a woman was robbed of Shs798,000 and allegedly raped in a maize garden.
The incident occurred on the evening of August 31, when the woman was returning home from Konyokonyo Centre at about 7:20pm.
According to police, she was intercepted in the Morobi area by two armed men carrying what were described as sub-machine guns (SMGs).
The suspects allegedly robbed her of Shs98,000 in cash and a mobile phone before forcing her to disclose her mobile money PIN.
Police said the attackers subsequently transferred Shs700,000 from her mobile money account to an unknown MTN number, bringing her reported financial loss to Shs798,000.
The suspects then allegedly dragged the woman about 100 metres from the road into a maize garden, where she was sexually assaulted.
They reportedly damaged her phone, abandoned it about 20 metres from the scene and fled on foot.
The case was reported at Morobi Police Post on September 1 and registered under SD Ref: 02/01/09/2026 and Obongi CRB 201/2026.
Police suspect larger armed gang
North West Nile Regional Police spokesperson Superintendent of Police Collins Asea said preliminary investigations indicate that the two attackers could have been part of a larger group of six suspects operating in three teams.
The suspects are allegedly armed with SMG rifles and other weapons, including a hammer, stick and knife.
Police are also investigating reports of other robberies in Morobi on the previous evening, which investigators suspect could be connected to the same group.
“It has also been established that several other individuals were robbed within the Morobi area the previous evening by the same group of assailants, who were on foot and subsequently vanished into an unknown location,” Asea said.
A joint team from Morobi and Itula Police stations responded to the scene and recovered the victim’s damaged phone, a small brown bag and a spent cartridge.
The cartridge has been submitted for forensic examination to establish the firearm from which it was discharged and determine whether it can be linked to other reported incidents.
Police had not announced any arrests by Wednesday.
Mobile money transfer under investigation
Investigators are also following the trail of the Shs700,000 mobile money transfer, which could provide a lead in identifying the suspects.
Police are working to establish the identity of the recipient and determine whether the MTN number is connected to the suspects or other robberies reported in the area.
The recipient has not been publicly identified.
The victim is receiving medical treatment and support following the attack.
Asea appealed to residents to provide information that could help investigators locate the suspects.
“We appeal to the public for any information related to these incidents to report to the nearest police station. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses,” he said.
Violent crime remains a concern
The Morobi incident comes amid a broader national crime picture in which overall reported crime has declined, although some violent offences have increased.
The Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2025 recorded 196,405 criminal cases, down from 218,715 cases in 2024.
However, aggravated robberies involving lethal weapons increased by 6.7 per cent, from 1,968 cases in 2024 to 2,101 in 2025.
Cash-related robberies also increased, while reported rape cases rose marginally to 1,675.
The national figures do not establish a direct connection between those trends and the attacks in Morobi, but they underline the continuing challenge posed by violent crime involving firearms and other weapons.
For investigators in Obongi, the immediate task is to identify and apprehend the six suspects, establish whether they were responsible for other robberies reported in Morobi and trace the firearm allegedly used in the attacks.
Police say investigations are continuing.