Kampala Police Arrest 9, Recover Guns in String of Robberies

Police in Kampala have dismantled a criminal group believed to be responsible for several armed robberies, arresting nine individuals and recovering two firearms. The arrests follow a two-month period marked by a string of violent incidents where criminals, often armed with guns and pangas and using motorcycles, made off with substantial amounts of cash.

Investigators have linked two major aggravated robberies, one on June 1 and another on August 3, to the same gang. The first incident saw three armed assailants, one in military attire, attack a sales manager in Wakiso District, firing shots into the air and stealing Shs24 million. Later, on August 3, the same group targeted a shop in Kasenyi, making off with Shs26 million after firing a shot and threatening staff.

Intelligence gathered from CCTV footage and advanced tracking systems, including the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS), was crucial in identifying the motorcycle used in the August 3 robbery. This led police to track the vehicle to Jinja City. A joint operation involving police from Kampala and Jinja intercepted the suspects in Buikwe District as they were attempting to return to Kampala.

During interrogation, the suspects confessed to their involvement in the two highlighted robberies and several others across Kampala, Eastern Uganda, and the Albertine region. They led investigators to Mukono District, where a rifle with 15 live rounds was recovered. Four suspects are currently in custody, with ongoing efforts to apprehend additional individuals involved.

The recovered weapons and the suspects’ confessions are expected to shed light on other cases, including an incident in Lungujja where residents were robbed of cash and electronics, and a case in Nsangi where a boda-boda rider was attacked and his motorcycle stolen. Police are also investigating a separate robbery in Kajjansi where a television set was stolen from a residence, with sniffer dogs aiding in the arrest of one suspect.

According to ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, Deputy Spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan Police, the investigation into how criminals access firearms, including those potentially linked to police personnel, is ongoing. This follows previous incidents where police officers were implicated in selling or hiring out firearms to criminals. The findings from this probe will be presented to the Police Advisory Committee to devise strategies for reducing such security breaches.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/police-recover-two-guns-arrest-9-in-kampala-robberies-5551956