Six suspected thugs have been arrested by the Police flying squad unit for masterminding the highway robberies along Kampala-Mityana road.
The Criminal Investigations Directorate-CID Spokesperson Charles Twiine, has identified the suspects as Ibrahim Ssemuwemba, resident of Busega Rubaga Division in Kampala, Ignatius Lwassampijja, a resident of Gombe village in Mityana, Hakim David, the chairperson Mirembe Kaweesa village in Kasanda district.
The others are Emmanuel Ddamulira, a resident of Wabigalo in Mityana, Emmanuel Kimbowa Ssegayi, a mechanic in Nazigo and Ronald Kayiira, a resident resident of Mirembe-Kawesa in Kasanda district.
The six are being held on charges of aggravated robberies. Twiine says the suspects have been conducting robberies from December 2021 to date, majorly targeting people transporting produce from Mityana, Mubende, Kasanda and Butambala districts destined for Kampala.
He adds that the same gang members have allegedly been masquerading either as police or army officers on the lawful duty to their unsuspecting victims.
On January 23, 2022, at Bamunanika village along Mubende Kampala Highway, the same thugs mounted a fake roadblock dressed in army uniforms and armed with toy guns, machetes and hammers robbed occupants of motor vehicle registration Number UBG709G Fusso that was loaded with 80 bags of maize destined for Kampala.
They also robbed Shillings 1.2 million and mobile phones from their victims before assaulting the truck driver, Richard Lubega and 3 other occupants.
They then tied their victims with ropes and dumped them in a forest 2km away from the scene. According to Twiine, the truck was later found abandoned in the Mukono after getting involved in a motor accident with only 40bags of maize.
On March 8th, 2022, the suspects staged another robbery along Mityana-Kampala road where they intercepted truck Reg number UBH 231E loaded with 95 bags of maize. They severally stabbed the occupants of the truck including Alex Isabilye and Christopher Wako and dumped them behind the cabin before they drove off and abandoned them in the bush.
The vehicle was found the next day along Busunju Road.
On January 20th, 2022 using a similar method, the suspects robbed a canter truck Reg number UBK522S that was loaded with 68 bags of maize. They assaulted the truck driver David Njaana Muhereza and his turn man Kenneth Tumwesigye and left them for dead. The thugs made off with their phones and money.
Police have cautioned motorists and business people to desist from travelling late at night transporting produce, which creates opportunities for the criminals.
