A third-year female student of Gulu University pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture was allegedly strangled and robbed by three suspected gang members in Pece Lukung, Laroo-Pece Division, Gulu City.

The student was reportedly found unconscious in the early hours of Sunday, August 23, 2026, after surviving the attack.

According to sources, the student arrived at Lamogi Ber Bus Terminal at around 3:00am after traveling from Kampala on a Mega Bus that was heading to Kitgum.

She reportedly hired a boda boda to take her to her hostel near Gulu University campus in Laroo.

However, the rider allegedly took a different route towards Moroto. When the student questioned him about the direction, he reportedly told her that the route would lead to her destination.

Along the tarmac road that connects Gulu University to the Moroto road, after Cuk Atuku, the rider reportedly stopped near two other men. The three suspects allegedly attacked the student and strangled her.

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Before losing consciousness, the student reportedly shouted and pleaded with the attackers not to kill her. She then told them that her bag contained shs2 million, a laptop and other valuables.

The suspects, including the boda boda rider reportedly abandoned her and fled with the bag after hearing that it contained money and a laptop.

Onono James Ojok, the Gulu University Communication Officer, said the student whose identity is withheld for security reasons, reported the incident to the university security team, and a formal case was registered with police.

The laptop had a tracking device, which enabled the student and university security team to trace its movements after the suspects switched it on.

Police initially traced the laptop to Coronation Road in Gulu City on Monday. However, by the time the security team arrived, the suspects had reportedly moved from the location.

A subsequent tracking attempt led police to Lacan Kwite in Bardege-Layibi Division, where they reportedly found one suspect. The suspect allegedly led police to two other suspects believed to have been involved in the robbery.

The operation also led to the discovery of two stores containing suspected stolen property. One store was found in Lacan Kwite and another in Cuda, on the outskirts of Gulu City along the Gulu-Anaka Road.

With support from the Gulu University security team, police on Monday arrested the three suspects.

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“I am happy that everyone involved in that robbery is now in the hands of security. But I want our students to desist from nightlife, and when moving, they should move in big groups,” Onono said.

He also warned criminal gangs against targeting university students.

“To the gangs, stop tempting the university students. It will be very dangerous if students mobilise themselves to look for you in your hideouts. Allow students to be. They have brought development, and we are now boasting of 7,000 admissions this year’s intake. People are supposed to construct more hostels, but you want to destroy development,” he warned.

Onono cautioned Gulu University students to exercise greater vigilance, particularly at night, and avoid moving alone during the early hours when they could be vulnerable to attacks.

He also advised students travelling at night to plan their journeys carefully and avoid moving during high-risk hours, warning that some criminals may disguise themselves as boda boda operators.

The case is being investigated under SD Reference 12/23/08/2026 on allegations of robbery at Gulu Central Police Station.

The incident comes two months after Christopher Nyeko, a laboratory technician at Gulu University, was attacked and killed by suspected gang members in the early hours of May 22, 2026, in Forest Cell, Gulu City, while reportedly returning home on foot from a nightclub.