Four individuals have been apprehended for allegedly turning Restoration Gateway Hospital in Bedmot village, Karuma Town Council, into their personal building materials depot. This little escapade included a senior six student and a few other local characters who apparently thought pilfering supplies was their ticket to a more glamorous life.
Lawrence Opiyo, the head of security at Restoration Gateway Hospital, spilled the beans on these thrilling developments. The suspects include Justin Katusegye, a 23-year-old from Teyago village; Tom Shadik, a 29-year-old from Diima; Cosmus Lenga, a 21-year-old boda boda rider from Teyago stage; and Francis Jawia, a 22-year-old senior six student from The Oak of Righteousness. Yes, you read that right—one of the suspects was a student from the very school that is part of the Restoration Gateway community, where students are meant to be learning about righteousness, not how to make off with building materials.
Restoration Gateway, founded by Dr. Tim McCall and Janice Moore McCall, is like a modern-day Noah’s Ark for Ugandan orphans. It provides them with both a loving home and a solid education, so one might think this isn’t the place where one should be trying to make off with the materials for their next “big project.”
The heist, which took place at around 11:00 PM, was as dramatic as a hollywood cliffhanger. The suspects were nabbed red-handed, literally, with pipe props and concrete brick plates in their possession. The two motorcycles they used to transport their loot—UDX 094C and UFX 314C—are now in police custody, likely pondering their own poor life choices.
Opiyo revealed that this wasn’t the hospital’s first brush with sticky fingers. Just two years ago, a hefty sum of 100 million shillings vanished from the hospital, and they did manage to catch the culprit. Seems like the hospital has a knack for attracting sticky-fingered mischief makers.
According to a police officer who preferred to remain anonymous (probably to avoid the same fate as the materials), the suspects have been handed over to the Karuma Police Station for further investigation. They face charges of criminal trespass and theft. Once the legal wheels are set in motion, they’ll be headed to court, where they can expect a dose of reality that’s probably much more sobering than the thrill of their midnight escapades.
The case is now officially recorded at Karuma Police Station under SD 08/04/8/2024, ensuring that the legend of the Karuma heist will be one for the books—or at least for the local gossip mill.
