Reports of violent deaths, robberies and kidnappings – many involving “criminal gangs and uniformed armed men,” have increased dramatically in Kampala.
No one is safe – pavers are hurled at motorists. Those who peddle the street are hit with iron bars or pavers and others are muscled out of cars by armed men riding in the tinted omni-buses commonly called drones.
Kampala is careening into a new security crisis as violence escalates in its suburbs. Police point a finger of blame at the dire economic situation in the country, which is forcing many young men and women into crime to survive.
Residents in Namungongo and Kira Municipality are gripped by fear. Interviewed for this story, Julius Mutebi Nsubuga, the mayor of Kira Municipality, said the level of criminality in the area is very worrying.
“Every day, we are alerting the community about crimes that are taking a toll on the municipality. We hold security meetings at village levels, we sensitize them about this wave of criminality and urge them to stay on guard because everyone is a victim,” he said.
“Indeed, I can’t tell you that police have deployed in the area. Whenever they are called, they take too long to respond and this in most cases has led to the loss of lives,” he said.
“We have few police officers in the municipal council. Police are understaffed and under-resourced. The municipal council has three divisions and there are four police pickups. There is one police pickup in Bweyogerere, Kireka, Kira and the district police commander (DPC) travels in the other. The cars have mechanical problems; tires are worn out; so, we don’t expect them to patrol the area. When you call them for an emergency, they take four to five hours to respond,” he said.
He said crime is increasing day and night in most cases.
“Armed men are robbing people in broad daylight. Police are not doing enough to curb criminality. We are calling on them to deploy in the area to bring the crime rate down,” he said.
DEATHS AND ROBBERIES
Susan Alweny, a resident of Mbalwa, Kira Municipality, was attacked and killed by a gang on September 30. The father fought back tears as he told a hushed congregation of mourners at Uganda Martyrs Catholic Shrine Basilica, Namugongo,
in excruciating detail, how his daughter’s life was violently ended by thugs.
Alweny, the former head of Claims at Liberty Insurance Company, was hit by a paver and killed. She had stopped at Kiwatule, a Kampala suburb, to buy some snacks. The incident happened before 9pm. She was robbed of her mobile phone and money.
On September 9, 2022, thugs hit, killed and robbed Winnie Kobusinge of her cash and a mobile phone. She was reportedly attacked at 6:30am near Shell, Kiwatule.
On September 13, 2022, unknown assailants killed George Ekochu, a relative of Capt. Mike Mukula, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) vice chairman for Eastern Uganda. He was hit on the head with an iron bar. The deceased had left his home in the evening to buy bread and milk in Namugongo.
On March 20, 2022, at around 10 pm, criminals attacked Ben Kasule, the Gombolola internal security officer of Kyebando. He was rushing to Akwamwesi Mall, along Gayaza road, to respond to a phone snatching incident when he was attacked.
His motorcycle was also damaged. On September 28, a group of armed thugs clad in military attire and plainclothes robbed a Pakistani car dealer, Rafik Khan of his two phones, $300 and Shs 70,000 in broad daylight. The incident happened at Kireka zone C near Kireka Grammar primary school in Namugongo division, Kira municipality in Wakiso district.
A video showed the victim being forced into a Toyota Probox registration number UBM 877B. Rafik was later abandoned at Kasangalabi along the Kayunga- Mukono road. On October 5, 2022, a group of six armed thugs traveling in a Toyota Hiace registration number UBD 071E stole a Toyota Probox registration number UBK 019L from Edward Hambisa.
According to a statement released by Patrick Onyango, the Kampala Metropolitan Area police spokesperson, Hambisa was blocked and forced out of his vehicle. He moved out of the car with his keys. When the thugs entered the car and drove away, Hambisa locked them inside with his automatic key.
Onyango said the thugs drove away and Hambisa pursued them on a boda-boda. He raised an alarm. A good Samaritan joined him and they alerted people around the Namboole flyover stage.
“The people near the Namboole flyover blocked the road and the suspects could not proceed. The one with a gun disappeared in the bush,” Onyango said.
The other four suspects; Evelyn Busingye, Mercy Namyaalo, Benjamin Senyange and James Kanyike were nabbed. The crime rate has climbed in the last four months. Men in army uniform erect roadblocks around Lubowa on Ndejje-Lubugumu road, Kira-Kasangati Road, Nakawuka-Kasanje road, Kayunga- Ssenge-Kawa road, and Wakiso- Matugga road.
They rob people clean. Police and the army have stepped up operations to contain the situation. However, incidents of crime have increased in the areas of Kira Municipality, Namugongo, Makindye, Northern bypass, and Entebbe Expressway.
According to the 2021 annual crime report, police recorded 5,275 robbery cases against 5,302 cases reported in 2020 – which amounts to a 0.5 per cent decrease. But cases of armed robberies increased.
According to the report, about 1,956 cases of aggravated robbery (armed robbery) were reported in 2021 compared to 1,844 cases reported in 2020, which amounts to a six per cent increase.
A total of 436 cash robberies were registered in 2021 compared to 364 cases reported in 2020, which is a 19.7 per cent increase.
EFFORTS TO CURB CRIME
In a speech at the October 6 Private Sector CEO Forum, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja said President Yoweri Museveni ordered the removal of all roadblocks along highways. The roadblocks, the president said, don’t detect crime but provide fertile grounds for corruption and delay in the transportation of goods.
Last month, the director of the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), Assistant Inspector General of Police Major Tom Magambo made changes at the directorate and replaced all detectives. About 402 officers were moved outside the Kampala Metropolitan Areas of Mukono, Kampala and Wakiso. The transferees included 47 detective inspectors and 355 low-ranking detectives.
A source told The Observer that some officers obstructed investigations into crime, others were none performers and others were colluding with criminals to terrorize people.
On October 8, 2022, a Flying Squad team shot and killed Busingye Lawrence Amoti Alias Mutooro who stole motor vehicle number UAQ 571B, which belonged to the unrevealed journalist. The car was stolen from a parking lot on October 6, 2022.
On September 24, 2022, Kampala Metropolitan Area police conducted an intelligence-led operation targeting criminals
who terrorize fans, revelers and well-wishers at music concerts. They steal phones, wallets, purses, handbags and other valuables at major events.
Darren Kabuye aka Henry Mukisa was arrested too. He is the leader of the notorious ‘EKIGARI criminal gang. This gang is the mastermind of the smash-and-grab attacks and iron bar-related armed robberies and sexual assaults in Kawempe division.
The gang terrorizes Gayaza road, Tula road, and areas around Akamwesi mall.
POLICE SPEAKS OUT
Luke Owoyesigyire, the Kampala Metropolitan Area deputy police spokesperson, said there is some criminality coming back, and “we have registered one incident of gun-wielding men who stole a vehicle. It was only that incident that happened on the Northern bypass and four suspects were arrested.”
“We have those aspects of criminality but I don’t think the situation is out of hand. We have mobilized our motorcycle patrollers; they are always on the lookout. For quite some time, we have not registered such serious cases. It is one week or two since the woman in Kiwatule was hit, sustained injuries, and later died. So, that doesn’t mean that we should give up,” he said.
“We believe our presence on the road will deter such acts of criminality; that is what we are doing, to make sure that we are available so that we act as a deterrent measure…,” he added.
Owoyesigyire said police are conducting intelligence-led operations. “We recovered a vehicle belonging to a journalist and the police are also conducting operations in Makindye division where criminal gangs had made it a haven.”
He said police are arresting people who buy proceeds of crime like mobile phones, car spare parts, televisions, and other things.
“I believe it is something that we should keep doing. We should not wait for cases to pop up and we react. We shall continue identifying these criminals,” he said.
Interviewed about incidents on the Entebbe Expressway, he said police cannot do much.
“We had a meeting with people managing the Expressway and road tolls and we agreed to give them police officers to move on their patrol vehicles but that is still not enough. We believe something should be done to change and allow designated patrol vehicles,” he said.
He said police are working with sister security agencies to identify and arrest suspects who robbed the Pakistani national.
“We are working together to identify the suspects and the vehicle which was used in the criminality. So far, no success, but we are following up on those leads,” he said.
UPDF REACTS
Interviewed for this story, UPDF spokesman Brigadier General Felix Kulayigye said they are doing joint deployment and patrolling with police and very soon the situation will be contained.
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