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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Police with the help of Closed Circuit Television –CCTV cameras have arrested four suspects who have been on wanted lists for terrorizing city dwellers mostly during rush hours by using motorcycles to snatch their valuables.
In the last two months, Katwe and Old Kampala Police Station have registered numerous cases of people who have been robbed of their wallets and mobile phones during traffic jam or walking along the streets of Kampala.
What has been common among the complainants was that they had been robbed by men on two motorcycles mostly in areas of Kibuye, Mengo, Ndeeba, Katwe, Kisenyi and Salama road.
Police embarked on reviewing its CCTV footage captured by cameras erected on both major and access routes to identify the robbers. The ICT team in the Kampala Metropolitan mostly Kampala south region (Katwe) positioned the pictures of the suspects in their CCTV system until yesterday when four of the suspected gang members were arrested committing the same crime.
After CCTV team received signals, Police commanded by Katwe Division Police Commander, David Kamugira swung into action and arrested Semakula 23, Wisdom Baguma 19, John Tumusiime alias Mutooro and Mustafa Lubega alias Ade.
In their statements, Semakula said he is a resident of Ndejje Kanaba in Makindye Ssabagabo municipality, Baguma and Tumusiime have said they are residents of Kisenyi social centre village, while Lubega said he is a resident of Makerere Kivvulu.
. @Lukowoyesigyire “The territorial Police at Katwe have arrested members of a criminal gang that has been robbing people of properties using motorcycles.
The suspects were arrested during an operation that took place yesterday 1st December 2022.
1/3 pic.twitter.com/bpUPCOjjAK— Uganda Police Force (@PoliceUg) December 2, 2022
“They have allegedly been snatching bags from pedestrians, and phones from both motorists and pedestrians before fleeing on motorcycles which were identified by our CCTV cameras,” the Katwe DPC and team briefed seniors at KMP headquarters.
Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy Kampala metropolitan Police spokesperson said the Police force has established that quartet get motorcycles on loan in the guise of using them for Bodaboda business, but instead us them to robe the public.
“We have also established where they sell the stolen items and efforts to have the promoters arrested is on. Our efforts to pacify the city from criminals with intelligence-led operations continue,” said Owoyesigyire.
Few days ago the Police Flying Squad arrested 11 suspects who have been using motorcycles to rob other motorcycles which they would end up selling to unsuspecting buyers or spare parts dealers mostly in areas of Katwe-Muganzirwazza.
Fred Enanga, the Police Spokesperson identified the suspects arrested over motorcycle robberies as Badru Kinene, Jamada Katuga, Emmanuel Nalutulikye Segirinya, Emmanuel Julius Byamukama, Ibrahim Walukaga Ibrahim, Ronald Kasasa, Godfrey Kizito, Charles Matovu, David Sssebowa, Rajab Ssekide alias Maulana and Paul Ssemanda Paul.
“The group is organised and disguise as Bodaboda riders with no stages. They simply ride around racing motorcycles for theft. They have recruited young boys/youth and trained them on how to pluck off number plates for a profit and also steal motorcycles,” said Enanga.
Enanga said the arrest of the criminal racket demonstrates that security forces are collectively resolved to rid the Bodaboda industry of criminal elements. Security believes the massive operation will help cause a reduction in the number of Bodaboda attacks and robberies.
Enanga applauds DPC Kamugira and Katwe South Regional Police Commander Charles Nsamba as well as the intelligence team including Flying Squad for their resolute to fight criminality.
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