Residents of Kikoni A Zone have been advised to move with little money in cash, to avoid chances of being robbed. The call was made by the area LC 1 chairman, Martin Lutaaya.

Lutaaya instead says residents should make use of banks and mobile money services to transact and keep their money. "I call upon the residents to move with little money in their pockets and to always deposit their money either in the bank or mobile money accounts immediately after selling their commodities for the purposes of safety,” Lutaaya told journalism@mak.

This was in a security meeting held in his home.

This follows the theft of 800,000/= by suspected robbers from a resident, Alex Mujuni on his way from Kakiri market where he sold vegetables and matooke.

Mujuni told the meeting how suspected thieves got him along JJ Hostel road and threatened to kill him if he refused to release the money. He ended up surrendering it in fear of losing his life. He also lost his phone in the attack.

“Three men stopped me as I was coming from Kakiri market to sell some vegetables and matooke along JJ hostel. They grabbed me, pointed a knife at me and threatened to kill me,” Mujuni narrated.

Babirye Mary, another resident said that crime in the area is at its peak that police should work hard and find solutions to it as soon as possible.

“There is a high rate of robbery and theft these days in Kikoni. We call upon the police and local leaders to put all measures to curb down crimes especially robbery and theft, otherwise our lives are in trouble,” Babirye said.

Police admitted how there is increased criminality in the area and promised to take immediate action.

"There is rampant robbery in Kikoni and police is strongly investigating cases of theft and threatening residents. The police will soon take action on criminals who are found guilty and law will punish them accordingly,” said Paul Oboth, an officer at Kikoni police station.

The chairperson also vowed to deal with the idlers who keep on betting without working, and suspects that they are the ones who end up committing such crimes.