DCI kills three suspected thugs during operations

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Directorate of Crime Intelligence (DCI) has shot and killed three suspected leaders of gangs operating near the Ministry of Public Service, Katanga, Sir Apollo Kaggwa and Nansana Municipality.

A Nansana machete gang commander identified as Pius was shot three times on Friday night at Nasere zone, Gganda Parish.

Pius was being trailed by DCI team working alongside covert Nansana police officers since March 27, 2024 after their group became very active during the Easter period where dozens of people were mugged and robbed during day and night hours.

Security operatives were tipped about Pius’ group’s planned machete operation and deployments were done in strategic points. Pius, according ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy Kampala metropolitan police spokesperson, was sighted by the security team holding a blood stained machete and warning bullets were fired but he did not heed.

ASP Owoyesigyire basing on DCI report said Pius was presumably on a robbery mission and was more than ready to attack whoever attempted to stop his acts. “In the process of apprehending him, despite multiple warnings, the suspect aggressively advanced towards our officers. Regrettably, to prevent further harm, the officers were compelled to discharge their firearms, resulting in the suspect sustaining fatal injuries,” said ASP Owoyesigyire.

Prior to the operation in which Pius was killed, investigators had unearthed that the deceased suspect alongside other accomplices who are still at large and some already in custody had been involved in numerous aggressive robbery incidents within the Kampala Metropolitan area.

Details have revealed that before Pius was neutralized in the night, DCI and Kampala North police officers had shot to death two suspects who appeared in a video that went viral kicking a woman near the Ministry of Public Service during Easter week. The woman was attacked with a flying kick and she hit her face on the tarmac. The victim’s bag was taken by the thugs who went to Katanga and ended up conducting other robberies at Sir Apollo Kaggwa road.

SCP Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson has identified one of the two thugs killed after attacking a woman as Ssekyanzi Vincent aka Taata Top.

“Ssekyanzi was on the list of wanted criminals and during arrest, he wanted to attack the police officers. He was one of the two thugs that attacked a woman at Public Service and crossed to Katanga. Their place of convergence was at Chez traffic lights,” said SCP Enanga.

Enanga said the body of the second suspect is still at Mulago mortuary because he had no identification documents. The group of Ssekyanzi has been connected to the attack on a Chinese national near Sheraton hotel barely a month ago. DCI has warned that lethal methods are being applied to thugs who also apply the same measures.

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