Police are holding nine armed robbers who have been behind the robberies in different parts of the country which have involved shooting of several people dead and injuring many.
Fred Enanga, the Police spokesperson says the suspects were arrested following several operations conducted by the Directorate of Crime Intelligence in coordination with Crime Intelligence, Kampala Metropolitan Police, FSU and the territorial police in Kassanda, Nsangi and Kabalagala. Enanga says the major operations were carried out on the June 20, and 22, 20.06.2023 leading to the successful recovery of two guns, and the arrest of 9 armed robbers, who form part of two notorious criminal gangs.
“The facts gathered indicate that Crime Intelligence teams at KMP, built on intelligence targeting assailants, behind the multiple robberies in Greater Kampala. As a result, they tracked down and arrested Kasozi Paul on June 20, 2023, at around 11:00pm, along Wakaliga road, impounded his motor vehicle, a Mark Grand Silver, under registration number, UAH 874H. An immediate search was conducted, and a police gun, an AK 47 loaded with a magazine of 30 rounds was recovered from the car boot,” Enanga narrated.
He adds: “His arrest led us to his accomplices in Nabbingo, where, Luwemba Geoffrey alias General, Ssempira Kato Arafat, Bukenya Peter alias Imran and Wasswa Akram were arrested.”
He further revealed that on further interrogation, the suspects admitted to having participated in 4 armed robberies that included;
The Aggravated Robbery of sh3m on the June 15, against Ndagire Sylvia, a mobile money operator, at Kinaawa trading center, Bandwe cell, Kasenge in Kyengera, Wakiso district.
The Aggravated robbery of sh1.5m and phones, that were robbed from Nkalubo Brian, a mobile money operator at Kinaawa trading center.
The Aggravated robbery of sh8m, robbed from Nabatanzi Sarah, a mobile money operator and resident of Kitemu cell in Kyengera, Wakiso district.
The Aggravated robbery of sh12m, and mobile phones from Lweere Michael, and two others identified as Monica and Eddy at Nabbingo in Kiyanja zone.
Enanga said that on the June 23, a one Bukenya Fred who was in charge of reconnaissance in all the Nsangi robberies was arrested along Masaka road in Kyengera, bringing the total number of suspects behind the armed robberies to 6 (six).
“A serious manhunt for two other notorious accomplices identified as Isma Bamujje and Kakooza alias soldier are in place. The gang had their base in Nabbingo. They are being processed on 6 counts of Aggravated Robbery,” said the police mouthpiece.
In a separate operation on the June 22, Kabalagala Police received information, about a robber, who was suspected to have participated in the Aggravated robbery and murder of a policeman in Kassanda district, on June 19, 2023. As a result, Ssegawa Farook, a boda boda rider and resident of Kassanda district was arrested.
“Upon Ssegawa’s arrest, he led our teams to his other accomplices who included Okitoi Simon, who was arrested on the June 23, from Kamwokya and Olupot Dan Joseph, who was from Kanyogoga-Kansanga. Their arrest led to the recovery of an SAR 47 gun, with 17 rounds of ammunition.”
He says; “As police, we are aware of the dangers and threats, posed by such armed criminal gangs in our neighborhoods. We are going to, continue conducting very robust operations, to purposely disrupt and dismantle all criminal networks, within the suburbs of KMP and other parts of the country.”