The Joint Security task teams from Kampala Metropolitan Police, Flying Squad and Mukono Police have so far arrested 10 notorious suspects, who form part of the criminal network that has been behind a series of robberies in Mukono district, says Uganda Police spokesperson Fred Enanga.
The suspects arrested include; Nduga Reagan, Kalyango John, Mugalu William, Mbogo Sam, Kirumira Nathan, Ssenkubuwa Isma, Kizito Eria, Kinagodawa Asuman, Katende Umar and Golola.
Enanga says also recovered in the operations, is an assortment of exhibits which include; two motor vehicles under registration numbers UADI28Y and UAZ283Y; five (05) motorcycles under registration numbers, UDX490K, UDE876T, UEQ533Z, UFP443P, UEJO33R; one PSO gun, 9 pangas, housebreaking implements and several suspected stolen properties.
He adds that upon interrogation, the suspects admitted to having participated in 13 robberies as listed below;
On 9.12.2021, while armed with pangas, they attacked Gitta Immaculate Nanyombi, a 50-year-old businesswoman, at Kasangalabi cell, Mukono Municipality and robbed her of 10 mobile phones, 2 flat TV screens, 3 Lenovo laptops and 3 game tablets.
On 11.06.2022, at around midnight, they attacked Ssenkungu Kezekiya a 35-year-old businessman with others and robbed property worth 6.1m shillings.
On 17.06.2022, at 5 am, they attacked Kabonzi Richard, a 50-year-old businessman of Namubiru village in Mukono district, and robbed his motor vehiçle, a Toyota Noah, registration number UAQS73X, music system, phones and other items all valued at 18 million shillings; the gang again robbed Nanyombi Gift on the 0.06.2022 at 2:30am at Kasangalabi, of two mobile phones, smartwatch, and other items all valued at Ugx 8.5m.
Enanga says the same group on 18.06.2022, robbed Asiimwe Annet a 44-year-old farmer of Katikanu-Kusatu village; on 24.06.2022, they attacked Sekandi Irene a 23-year-old cashier at Spice Supermarket and robbed an unspecified amount from the supermarket.
Other persons robbed by the criminal gang are Kinalwa lan of Kiyoola village on 25.06.2021: Nabakooza Ritah, of Kirowooza village on 1.06.2022, Arinaye Allen of Upper Nabuti village in Mukono, on 4.05.2022 and Amoding Winnie.
“We continue to remind retail owners that agents of organized crimes are targeting their businesses. It is, therefore, important for them to commit more resources into hiring more security guards, target hardening, use of bright lights, conspicuously placed security cameras that can send alerts to a manager's phone or the nearest police unit,” says Enanga.