Joint security operation foils attempted robbery at NMS Entebbe warehouse

The Director of the State House Health Monitoring Unit, Dr. Warren Namara, has revealed that a joint security operation foiled an attempted robbery of medical equipment worth millions of shillings at the National Medical Stores (NMS) warehouse in Entebbe in the early hours of Sunday.

Dr. Namara said three suspects were involved in the attempted break-in at the storage facility located along Kampala Road. Two of the suspects sustained injuries during the operation and are currently receiving treatment in hospital, while another was arrested at the scene.

According to Dr. Namara, the suspects were in the process of loading stolen medical equipment into a Toyota Hiace van parked near the warehouse entrance. The vehicle bore fake number plates—UBB 677Q at the front and UBD 677Q at the rear.

“That is fake yellow cello tape strip, it has also got numbers that are fake, and a lot of concealment around it. We don’t think this was a one-off or an accidental, unplanned event. This was a planned operation, and we also don’t think it was the first time, given how organised they were,” Dr. Namara said.

He added that the suspects were found with a gas regulator connected to welding gas, which they intended to use to cut through metal barriers to gain access to the warehouse.

Dr. Namara noted that the State House Health Monitoring Unit is working closely with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) to interrogate the three suspects as investigations continue.

Meanwhile, the Principal Public Relations Officer of the National Medical Stores, Ms. Sheilla Nduhukire, said the suspects attempted to steal medical supplies valued at approximately UGX 100 million.

“Security recovered 78 boxes of disposable gloves and 19 boxes of oxygen regulators worth about UGX 100 million. These items have since been transferred to Entebbe Police Station to aid further investigations,” Ms. Nduhukire said.

Investigations into the attempted robbery are ongoing.