Viral Nsambya Robbery Video Intensifies Safety Fears Amidst Rising Cash Crimes

A recent viral video capturing a violent daylight robbery at the Nsambya traffic lights has sent shockwaves across Kampala, prompting renewed calls for enhanced public safety. The footage, which surfaced on Tuesday, June 9, depicts a gang of thugs ambushing and robbing two individuals shortly after they had withdrawn an undisclosed sum of cash from a forex bureau on May 6.

Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson, ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, confirmed the incident and stated that investigations are actively underway. Detectives have visited the crime scene, gathered statements from witnesses, and are reviewing CCTV footage to identify the perpetrators. “Every effort is being made to bring the perpetrators to justice,” Owoyesigyire assured the public, urging anyone with information to come forward.

This incident underscores a worrying trend highlighted in the 2025 Police Annual Crime Report. While general robberies saw a slight decrease nationwide, those specifically targeting cash surged by an alarming 37.2 percent between 2024 and 2025, rising from 573 to 786 cases. Of these, a significant number remain under active inquiry, with fewer than half reaching the court system.

Furthermore, aggravated robberies involving lethal weapons increased by 6.7 percent. The report identifies the Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) jurisdiction as the epicenter of these criminal activities, with KMP North, South, and East registering the highest numbers of reported robberies. Security experts are advising the public to exercise extreme caution and consider using digital banking methods when handling large sums of money to mitigate the risk of falling prey to these criminal syndicates.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)