Three people were shot dead after armed robbers raided Kirimantungo village, Kamira Sub-county in Luweero District and stole about Shs800,000 from a mobile money agent on Tuesday.

Police said the incident occurred when the criminals attacked a bar at night and forced all revellers to lie down and surrender all their money.

Savana region acting police commander Idd Kigenyi said the victims reportedly tried to overpower the gunmen, leading to the shooting.

He identified the deceased as Tadeo Baale, 40, Paul Ekiring, 30, and Stephen Iwokit, 24.

“The preliminary findings indicate that when the gunmen ordered everybody to lie on the floor as they demanded money, the deceased tried to overpower one of the gunmen but were randomly shot by another who had kept guard outside the bar,” Mr Kigenyi told Daily Monitor.

Eye witness account

The village chairperson, Mr Silver Okecho, said he was part of the people in the bar when the incident happened.

“A gunman ordered us to lie on the floor with our eyes closed. They wanted money and one of them opened fire when Baale tried to resist,” Mr Okecho said.

The gunmen then attacked a nearby mobile money shop where they robbed Shs600,000, including airtime cards. Mr Willy Kisitu, the shop attendant, said he was ordered to surrender all the money.

“One of the gunmen asked for all the mobile money, airtime cards and the ignition key for my bodaboda cycle which I surrendered. I was then ordered to lie under my bed with eyes closed,” he said.

The sub-county chairperson, Mr Livingstone Katagaya, said the incident was worrying because his area has not recorded robbery incidents in a long time.

“We call for a wider police investigation,” Mr Kategaya said on Wednesday.