Police have arrested six suspected panga-wielding robbers believed to be part of a gang targeting businesspeople carrying cash in Kampala. The suspects, who are detained at Katwe South Police Division, were identified by Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Racheal Kawala as Herbert Musinguzi, Patrick Kalyango, Owen Talemwa, Ronald Kyeyune, Ivan Mwase and Nasir Mutyaba.
According to police, the suspects allegedly ambushed a businessman and his sister in Kronde Zone, Ndeeba, robbing them of an unspecified amount of cash and other valuables during a night attack. Preliminary investigations indicate that the assailants, who were riding motorcycles, intercepted the victims by pretending that something was wrong with their vehicle, forcing them to stop before launching the robbery.
The victim, whose identity has been withheld, reported the incident at Kaboowa Police Post. Kawala said police first arrested Nasir Mutyaba, who allegedly provided information that led to the arrest of the other suspects.
She added that the suspects are boda boda riders operating from Bakiga and Gavan stages in Kabowa and are believed to be linked to a series of violent robberies across the Kampala Metropolitan area. Police also impounded two motorcycles, registration numbers UMA 281KD and UMA 359EV, which are suspected to have been used during the attacks. Kawala said investigations are ongoing and warned that police will continue pursuing criminal gangs targeting members of the public.
The latest arrests come amid growing concern over a rise in robberies carried out by gangs posing as boda boda riders. Police say the criminals often trail people withdrawing or transporting large sums of cash from banks and businesses before ambushing them using speed, numbers and violence. In one of the most high-profile recent cases, a gang of boda boda riders on May 6 robbed the manager of Riverside Forex Bureau and a colleague of USD 13,000 (about Shs45 million) in Nsambya shortly after they left the city centre.
The Flying Squad has since arrested at least four suspects in connection with that robbery, including Yudah Kamoga, also known as “Sparta”, and Arnold Kayabula. Police have urged businesspeople and members of the public handling large sums of money to remain vigilant and, where necessary, seek police escort to minimise the risk of attack-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
