Entebbe: White Suspect & Boda Rider Arrested Over ABSA Bank Extortion Deal Involving Fake Bombs

By Our Reporter

Police in Kajjansi have arrested a white man and a boda boda rider in connection with a fake bomb scare that caused panic at ABSA Bank and Guild Forex Bureau located at Quality Supermarket in Lubowa, along Entebbe Road.

The suspect, whose identity has not yet been disclosed, was arrested on Tuesday evening, August 19, 2025, after allegedly orchestrating a ransom scheme that demanded more than Shs. 600 million from the two financial institutions.

According to police sources, the suspect hired a boda rider, identified as Madi Muteta, to deliver two envelopes to the bank and forex bureau. The letters inside claimed that a “piped bomb” had been planted at their entrances and warned staff to pay ransom amounts in multiple currencies: $120,000 (Shs. 427m), €20,000 (Shs. 83m), £20,000 (Shs. 96m), and Shs. 30m.

When the envelopes were opened, panic spread among staff and customers. The police bomb squad was immediately deployed, cordoned off the premises, and carried out a thorough search. Investigations later confirmed that the bombs were fake.

“We received reports about two threatening letters delivered to ABSA and Guild Forex Bureau at around 4 pm. Our bomb squad responded and confirmed that no real explosives were present,” Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango said.

CCTV Tracks Down Suspect

The white suspect was tracked using CCTV footage along Entebbe Road, which helped detectives identify the vehicle he used to hand over the letters to Muteta. He was later apprehended and taken to Kajjansi Police Station for interrogation.

Police said the man has so far refused to provide his personal details, and investigations into his background are ongoing.

Meanwhile, the boda rider told police he was paid Shs. 20,000 to deliver the letters, claiming he was unaware of their contents.

“I was excited to earn twenty thousand shillings for such a short ride, but I did not know it would land me in trouble,” Muteta reportedly told investigators.

Both suspects remain in custody at Kajjansi Police Station as police continue investigations into the attempted extortion plot.