By Aggrey Baba
In life, the greedy are often caught by their own traps, much like a hunter who stumbles into his own snare. Such is the story of Sowedi Egumbye, a 32-year-old resident of Bugaga B in Nawanyago, Kamuli District, whose alleged misdeeds have finally led him to face justice.
On Tuesday, November 26, 2024, Sowedi appeared before Kamuli Chief Magistrates Court, presided over by Aisha Nabukeera, to answer charges of aggravated robbery. The court committed him to the High Court for trial. Sowedi stands accused of robbing Shilikya Paul of Shs 5 million and property valued at Shs 9 million in an incident that took place earlier this year.
This tale begins in March, when Sowedi and others allegedly lured Paul, a resident of Kireka, with promises of quick riches. They offered counterfeit US dollars in exchange for Ugandan shillings. Trusting their sweet words, Paul traveled to Nawanyago to make the exchange. But instead of wealth, he was met with loss, robbed of cash and his bag, which held his phones.
The law may move slowly, but it never forgets. Sowedi was arrested on November 26, 2024, in a carefully planned operation at the break of dawn. According to ASP Michael Kasadha, spokesperson for Busoga North Police, Sowedi is part of a notorious group that has for years preyed on unsuspecting victims, particularly from Kampala. Their schemes involve trickery, but where deception fails, they resort to force, wielding tools and sticks to achieve their goals.
This is not the group’s first brush with the law. On August 19, 2023, they reportedly attacked Nawanyago police cells, damaging property in a brazen attempt to free one of their members held on charges of distributing counterfeit money.
While Sowedi awaits his day in the High Court, investigations continue, and the hunt for his accomplices is in full swing. As the proverb says, “The axe forgets, but the tree remembers.” Justice may take time, but it comes nonetheless, and those who prey on others will eventually face the consequences of their actions. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at [email protected]).
