The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Fifteen suspected motor vehicle robbers are in police custoday as commanders in Kampala start a new drive to eliminate criminality in their areas.
The new Inspector General of Police, Abbas Byakagaba, who assumed office six weeks ago, has instructed commanders of various stations, divisions, and units to minimize criminal activity in the Kampala metropolitan area as soon as possible.
The Flying Squad Unit (FSU) thereafter embarked on a mission to hunt down motor vehicle robbers, and today they revealed the names of 15 notorious suspects who have been terrorizing Kampala’s metropolitan areas. According to the FSU, these suspects, arrested in areas such as Ndeeba, Mukono, Kalerwe, Kawempe, and Bunamwaya, have conducted more than 10 vehicle robberies in the last five weeks. Some vehicle owners were left nursing injuries due to these thugs’ actions.
The arrested suspects include Julius Musinguzi, Rashid Ssemyalo, Stephen Kasibante, George Amoit, Godfrey Taika, Siraji Kibuuka, Sammy Kyazze, Bashir Bukenya, Mukasa Wamala, Kennedy Kyazze, John Wandera, Jerry Lubega, Teddy Nabuyondo, Paul Bijumbuko, and Moses Anguzo. They are currently detained at the FSU headquarters at the former Special Investigations Unit (SIU).
The FSU report shows that the thugs have been altering vehicle details, such as registration number plates and chassis numbers. For example, a Noah UAS 043Z stolen from Kumi was changed to UAP 042N, with the robbery recorded at Kumi Police Station under reference CRB 365/2024. An Isuzu UBN 736K, stolen from Kakumiro District, was changed to UAX 827P. Other recovered vehicles during the arrest of the 15 suspects include Vitz SSD 992BC, Probox UBD 592G, Noah UAX 108E, Spacio UAX 827P, and Isuzu UAG 608C.
Police spokesperson ACP Rusoke Kituuma praised the FSU for disrupting criminal activities by some of the gangs operating in the Central and Western regions of Uganda. According to ACP Kituuma, some of the gangs were commanded by John Wandera, who is now in custody. “There is a group that is suspected of being behind the stealing of Lorries and selling them in Kampala and DRC. As a result, the following persons are in custody to help us with investigations into that matter,” ACP Kituuma said.
IGP Byakagaba’s directive to commanders came when Kampala was experiencing gruesome crimes, including broad daylight street mugging, machete attacks, flying kick gangs, and ride-along motorcycle robbery gangs. In the nearly 40 days that IGP Byakagaba has been in charge, over 150 suspects have been arrested in the Kampala metropolitan area.
According to SSP Patrick Onyango, the Kampala metropolitan spokesperson, at least 80 suspects were arrested in areas such as Kisugu, Wabigalo, Namuwongo, Kibuli, Bukasa, Kabalagala, and Kansanga. He added that many of the suspects were members of foot criminal gangs that victimized people regardless of the time of day.
***
URN
