Bukoba — SEVEN Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) delegates from Bukoba Rural District who were heading to Bukoba from Dodoma after attending the party's national congress, narrowly escaped an ambush by armed bandits at Lusahunga forest, in Biharamulo District. One of the delegates said the incident happened at around 7 am on Friday morning.

"We left Dodoma town at around 11 a.m. on Wednesday and spent the night at Runzewe. At around 7 a.m. as we were crossing the Lusahunga forest, a group of armed bandits ambushed three cars, including ours. "Fortunately, Wananchi from a nearby camp and police detectives from Biharamulo and Muleba districts, were informed and arrived on time to disperse the bandits," he said.

The CCM delegates commended the police for timely intervention which saved them from further embarrassment. It was not immediately established if the bandits stole any property. The Kagera Regional Police Commander (RPC), Mr Philip Kalangi, when contacted for comment said he was contacting the Commanding Officers (OCDs) in Muleba and Biharamulo districts and promised to issue a statement later.

Meanwhile, police in Muleba District are hunting for suspected bandits who shot dead a night watchman at a petrol station in the town on the night of November 12, this year. RPC Kalangi said the bandits, had traced a businessman (name withheld) who stopped at the filling station, and robbed him of 60m/-.

During the skirmishes, the businessman raised alarm and the unsuspecting watchman, who is yet to be identified, rushed to the scene to help but the bandits shot at close range wounding him critically. Mr Kalangi said the watchman died a few hours later while he was receiving treatment at Rubya Designated Hospital, in Muleba District.