{UAH} Thieves Snatch 178 Laptops From Makerere University
|
11:28 AM |
No comments |
Thieves Snatch 178 Laptops From Makerere University
Graphic Illustration of Crime in Makerere University. Login to license this image from 1$.
In short
At least 178 laptop computers have been stolen from both students and staff at Makerere University in the last four years. This comes just days after the police revealed that 48 vehicles and 56 motorcycles have been taken out of Makerere University and none has been recovered.
Audio is only available to paying subscribers.
At least 178 laptop computers have been stolen from both students and staff at Makerere University in the last four years.
This is yet another indication of security lapses at Uganda's oldest university, characterised dozens of unmanned entry and exit points, illegal footpaths and laxity at the three main gates into the university.
A four-year report from the Makerere University Police Post indicates a worrying trend of computer thefts. The report shows that 67 laptop computers were stolen in 2013 followed by 49 in 2014, 32 in 2015 and 30 in 2016.
The University Police discloses that laptops remain among the most sought-after items by thieves.
This comes just days after the police revealed that 48 vehicles and 56 motorcycles have been taken out of Makerere University and none has been recovered.
According to Jackson Mucunguzi, the University Chief Security Officer, the cases quoted are those that have been reported to police. He suspects that many more cases never get reported.
Other cases reported within the same period include 76 of mobile phones, 63 of burglary and 52 cases of stolen car parts among others.
It appears no place is safe at Makerere as students narrate incidents when their items have either been snatched from them while they walk around, especially in the night, or the thieves break into their halls of residence/hostels and rob them.
Bala Mwesigwa, a Fourth Year student of Journalism and Communication, had his laptop taken from his room on February 3rd this year as he had gone to the shower rooms.
Mwesigwa is still puzzled at how the thieves tracked him and knew where he kept his key on top of his door-frame board. In just five minutes his laptop was gone.
Musa Munanura, a suspect in the case is currently remanded to Luzira Prisons. The university police tracked Munanura to Top Pub along Winston Street in Kampala and recovered the laptop. Mwesigwa is one of the lucky students to have recovered his stolen laptops. Most students URN spoke to have been waiting for years.
Agnes Abashaba, a Third Year student of Veterinary Medicine and a resident of Mary Stuart Hall, says she has lost two laptops since she joined Makerere University. Abashaba says the first laptop was stolen after unknown people broke into her room and walked away with it.
Using her upkeep money, Abashaba bought another laptop which was later grabbed from her in the morning on her way to class between Livingstone Hall and the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources, and Bio-security (COVAB).
//Cue in: "I have lost two…
Cue out: …with the books."//
Rita Namubiru, a First Year student lost a laptop and smart phone at once. Unlike Abashaba, Namubiru finds it hard to explain her case, but says she was tricked into accepting strangers in her room.
She says a young man approached her seemingly advertising hair oil but the discussion drifted to other spirituality and then magic. Namubiru blames herself for being so naïve.
//Cue in: "This happened under…
Cue out: … take it out."//
Another man joined the discussion and the two walked with Namubiru back to her room. They grabbed two laptops, rings, and a smart phone.
//Cue in: "He was like…
Cue out: …I come back."//
Jennifer Nambuya, a custodian at Mary Stuart Hall reveals that the highest number of cases students report in this hall are laptop thefts. She says in just one semester, about 20 cases can be registered where student's rooms are broken into and laptops taken away. Nambuya notes that this usually happens during examination time and at the beginning of the semester.
"Thieves use metallic objects to open students' rooms. This hall is open and there are no restrictions. Whereas outsiders are not allowed inside beyond 9pm, some people at times enter and remain. We don't check who is there," Nambuya.
Behind Mary Stuart hall is a place where most thieves exit from. It is highlighted in the interviews this reporter conducts with students. And Nambuya too mentions it:
"The balcony behind Mary Stuart Tower is lower. We suspect people climb there and access this building. There is a time children were playing football. When the ball fell inside the wall, I saw a boy climb to pick it."
Mucunguzi, the University security chief, says on a weekly basis the Makerere police receive between five and 10 cases of laptop thefts. According to police, laptops are lost through gambling, physical assault by thugs who follow students to their hostels and through games by trick-stars.
//Cue in: "We have found…
Cue out: …the money lenders."//
Godwin Toko, a Third Year law student told URN that laptop thefts are fueled by businessmen who buy them from students. To protect his laptop, Toko uses a cable lock which he fastens on to the window in his room. He explains that laptop locks range between Shs15,000 and 100, 000 Shillings.
//Cue out: "There is this…
Cue out: …laptop is locked."//
The market
Inside Makerere, there are dozens of posters pinned all over; on trees, walls and notice boards with inscriptions: "We buy and sell used laptops, computers." From one of the posters, our reporter calls a contact under the guise of looking for a used laptop. He is directed to Nalubega Complex, one of the shopping malls along Kampala Road with several shops dealing in electronics.
Inside the building, one of the dealers named Nelson says they buy "these laptops from genuine people majority of who are from Makerere University." Used laptops are sprayed with chemicals to have a new look and resold at between 350,000 and 950,000 Shillings.
"Our biggest suppliers are from Makerere University. But these are very genuine. We ensure quality products to our clients. We can offer any type of computer here," Nelson says.
Whether these gadgets are indeed genuine, or they are part of the 178 stolen from Makerere is hard to determine at this point. And the police appear to be overwhelmed, with Jackson Mucunguzi only warning students to stop carrying laptops when it is late. He advises students to move in groups in order not to fall victims of what he calls "the racket."
//Cue in: "You are aware…
Cue out: …business of conning."//
--
This is yet another indication of security lapses at Uganda's oldest university, characterised dozens of unmanned entry and exit points, illegal footpaths and laxity at the three main gates into the university.
A four-year report from the Makerere University Police Post indicates a worrying trend of computer thefts. The report shows that 67 laptop computers were stolen in 2013 followed by 49 in 2014, 32 in 2015 and 30 in 2016.
The University Police discloses that laptops remain among the most sought-after items by thieves.
This comes just days after the police revealed that 48 vehicles and 56 motorcycles have been taken out of Makerere University and none has been recovered.
According to Jackson Mucunguzi, the University Chief Security Officer, the cases quoted are those that have been reported to police. He suspects that many more cases never get reported.
Other cases reported within the same period include 76 of mobile phones, 63 of burglary and 52 cases of stolen car parts among others.
It appears no place is safe at Makerere as students narrate incidents when their items have either been snatched from them while they walk around, especially in the night, or the thieves break into their halls of residence/hostels and rob them.
Bala Mwesigwa, a Fourth Year student of Journalism and Communication, had his laptop taken from his room on February 3rd this year as he had gone to the shower rooms.
Mwesigwa is still puzzled at how the thieves tracked him and knew where he kept his key on top of his door-frame board. In just five minutes his laptop was gone.
Musa Munanura, a suspect in the case is currently remanded to Luzira Prisons. The university police tracked Munanura to Top Pub along Winston Street in Kampala and recovered the laptop. Mwesigwa is one of the lucky students to have recovered his stolen laptops. Most students URN spoke to have been waiting for years.
Agnes Abashaba, a Third Year student of Veterinary Medicine and a resident of Mary Stuart Hall, says she has lost two laptops since she joined Makerere University. Abashaba says the first laptop was stolen after unknown people broke into her room and walked away with it.
Using her upkeep money, Abashaba bought another laptop which was later grabbed from her in the morning on her way to class between Livingstone Hall and the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources, and Bio-security (COVAB).
//Cue in: "I have lost two…
Cue out: …with the books."//
Rita Namubiru, a First Year student lost a laptop and smart phone at once. Unlike Abashaba, Namubiru finds it hard to explain her case, but says she was tricked into accepting strangers in her room.
She says a young man approached her seemingly advertising hair oil but the discussion drifted to other spirituality and then magic. Namubiru blames herself for being so naïve.
//Cue in: "This happened under…
Cue out: … take it out."//
Another man joined the discussion and the two walked with Namubiru back to her room. They grabbed two laptops, rings, and a smart phone.
//Cue in: "He was like…
Cue out: …I come back."//
Jennifer Nambuya, a custodian at Mary Stuart Hall reveals that the highest number of cases students report in this hall are laptop thefts. She says in just one semester, about 20 cases can be registered where student's rooms are broken into and laptops taken away. Nambuya notes that this usually happens during examination time and at the beginning of the semester.
"Thieves use metallic objects to open students' rooms. This hall is open and there are no restrictions. Whereas outsiders are not allowed inside beyond 9pm, some people at times enter and remain. We don't check who is there," Nambuya.
Behind Mary Stuart hall is a place where most thieves exit from. It is highlighted in the interviews this reporter conducts with students. And Nambuya too mentions it:
"The balcony behind Mary Stuart Tower is lower. We suspect people climb there and access this building. There is a time children were playing football. When the ball fell inside the wall, I saw a boy climb to pick it."
Mucunguzi, the University security chief, says on a weekly basis the Makerere police receive between five and 10 cases of laptop thefts. According to police, laptops are lost through gambling, physical assault by thugs who follow students to their hostels and through games by trick-stars.
//Cue in: "We have found…
Cue out: …the money lenders."//
Godwin Toko, a Third Year law student told URN that laptop thefts are fueled by businessmen who buy them from students. To protect his laptop, Toko uses a cable lock which he fastens on to the window in his room. He explains that laptop locks range between Shs15,000 and 100, 000 Shillings.
//Cue out: "There is this…
Cue out: …laptop is locked."//
The market
Inside Makerere, there are dozens of posters pinned all over; on trees, walls and notice boards with inscriptions: "We buy and sell used laptops, computers." From one of the posters, our reporter calls a contact under the guise of looking for a used laptop. He is directed to Nalubega Complex, one of the shopping malls along Kampala Road with several shops dealing in electronics.
Inside the building, one of the dealers named Nelson says they buy "these laptops from genuine people majority of who are from Makerere University." Used laptops are sprayed with chemicals to have a new look and resold at between 350,000 and 950,000 Shillings.
"Our biggest suppliers are from Makerere University. But these are very genuine. We ensure quality products to our clients. We can offer any type of computer here," Nelson says.
Whether these gadgets are indeed genuine, or they are part of the 178 stolen from Makerere is hard to determine at this point. And the police appear to be overwhelmed, with Jackson Mucunguzi only warning students to stop carrying laptops when it is late. He advises students to move in groups in order not to fall victims of what he calls "the racket."
//Cue in: "You are aware…
Cue out: …business of conning."//
--
Gwokto La'Kitgum
----------------------------------------------------------------
"Even a small dog can piss on a tall building" Jim Hightower
Disclaimer:Everyone posting to this Forum bears the sole responsibility for any legal consequences of his or her postings, and hence statements and facts must be presented responsibly. Your continued membership signifies that you agree to this disclaimer and pledge to abide by our Rules and Guidelines.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment