The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Director of Crime Intelligence Brig Gen Chris Damulira has dispatched a team to hunt for a new gang of criminals targeting motorcycle riders.
Police spokesperson Fred Enanga confirmed that the team was dispatched based on the records that have revealed the resumption of motorcycle robberies in various parts of the country.
Enanga said ever since the country lifted the total lockdown, there have been several incidents of motorcycle robberies particularly targeting boda boda riders. Police say a few days ago, three boda boda riders were waylaid and strangled to death.
Some of the victims of the new wave of motorcycle robberies include Ntungire Benon who was strangled to death in Kamusenene village, Ntungamo district and his motorcycle robbed.
Bashir Bogezi, another boda boda rider was murdered in Ntinda-Kyeberese village. His motorcycle was also robbed. The team has been tasked to review all the motorcycle robberies recorded in the recent past to unravel the possible connection.
“Aggravated robberies surrounding motorcycles are now on increase because of the increased activity. It is an area our crime intelligence team is looking into and will ensure culprits are arrested,” Enanga said.
In some of the incidents, police are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby cameras especially in Kampala metropolitan. The CCTV footage is intended to trace the last appearances of victims with the hope of getting the motorcycles, cars or human beings that were near them before their gruesome killings.
2019 was largely dominated by murders of boda boda riders by a gang allegedly led by Tamale Aloysius alias Sekyewa Patrick, alias Young Mulo. He was arrested with suspected accomplices who included Senyonga Umar, Mubale Bob alias Musoga Ben, Bandiho Majidu alias Kagame and Mugisha John Bosco alias Mukiga. The group was linked to the 20 murders of boda boda riders.
Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigations Directorate-CID has arrested 60 people in connection to robberies, murders and mob actions registered last week across the country. CID records indicate 52 people were murdered last week in domestic violence, robbery and property fights.
For cases related to domestic violence, Enanga has rallied local leaders to always be swift in addressing such disputes and where they feel they cannot handle, they should be fast at alerting the police’s Child and Family Protection Unit –CFPU for intervention.
“Cases of deaths arising out of domestic violence were many and we call upon our local leaders to take interest. One domestic incident happened in Kasubi where a security guard identified as Emitu Emilton left his home to go to the village but returned home and found the wife with another man. He stabbed the wife severally and killed her instantly,” Enanga said.
In Fort Portal, John Tumwebaze, a boda-boda rider asked his wife Stella Komuhendo to give him a jacket containing 25,000 shillings. But when the wife refused, Tumwebaze beat her up and when she ran away, he pounced on their five-month-old baby and killed him.
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