Soroti mobile money agent murder: 80-year-old arrested with 18 bullets
During a reconstruction of the crime scene, one of the suspects, Simon Epeu, allegedly told detectives that he was the one who dragged Kokunda from the taxi moments before she was shot.
In the photo combo is David Emenyu, alias Olipong (L), a prime suspect, alleged to have shot dead Patricia Kokunda, the deceased mobile money agent, and his arrested 80-year-old mother, Salume Akello, with her daughter-in-law Agnes Apolot at Soroti Central Police Station.
SOROTI - An 80-year-old woman, who is the mother of the prime suspect in the shooting of a mobile money agent in Soroti City, has been arrested after being found in possession of 18 rounds of SMG ammunition.
The suspect, Salume Akello, a resident of Akaikai in Soroti District, was arrested on Friday morning alongside her daughter-in-law, Agnes Apolot, 41, during an intelligence-led operation.
According to the East Kyoga Regional Police Commander, Ibrahim Saiga, the two are accused of concealing the firearm used in the killing, as well as hiding ammunition linked to the crime.
The bullets were reportedly recovered from a container hidden inside Akello’s grass-thatched kitchen.
Saiga says Akello, who is also a sister-in-law to the main suspect, David Emenyu, admitted that they received and kept custody of the gun after it was handed to them by Emenyu, who had fled to Abim District before his arrest.
Emenyu family's criminal background
Preliminary findings indicate a pattern of criminal activity within the family. The father of the prime suspect, Vincent Opolon, together with his two sons, Justine Opali, who is the husband of Apolot and Isaac Opolon, are currently incarcerated at Kitalya Government Prison on charges of aggravated robbery.
Emenyu David alias Olipong, the prime suspect in this case, is the firstborn son of Opolon and Akello.
The arrest of Emenyu’s mother and his sister-in-law comes just hours after police arrested Silver Adetu, 29, an MTN SIM card agent from Nakatunya Ward in Soroti City West Division on Thursday, April 23, who is suspected to have played a key role in identifying the victim, Patricia Kokunda, as a target.
Police say that Adetu allegedly passed information about Kokunda’s movements and the money she was carrying to Emmanuel Amanu, another suspect who was arrested last Saturday in Kibuli, Kampala, where he had reportedly gone into hiding.
The total number of suspects in custody has now risen to 15. They are facing charges of aggravated robbery and murder by shooting.
Police are now piecing together the role each suspect played in the carefully planned robbery that shocked residents of Soroti and left a grieving family behind.
During a reconstruction of the crime scene, one of the suspects, Simon Epeu, allegedly told detectives that he was the one who dragged Kokunda from the taxi moments before she was shot.
“When she entered to sit, I followed and pulled her out,” Epeu reportedly told investigators.
“I grabbed her bag and ran.”
Witnesses say gunshots rang out moments later, shattering the calm of the morning.
Kokunda fell to the ground screaming in pain after bullets tore through her legs. She was rushed for emergency treatment, but doctors could not save her.
“She was shot three times, fracturing both legs,” Saiga said.
“Efforts to save her life were unsuccessful. She was pronounced dead on arrival at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital.”
Kokunda was laid to rest on Easter Monday in Kazo District.
Her death has left five children without their mother and a city still struggling to come to terms with a killing many describe as heartless and deeply disturbing.