By Charles Ariko

THE Police have burst a racket of criminals who have been robbing passengers aboard commuter taxis.
Herbert Mawanda, a resident of Nateete in Rubaga Church Zone, who is believed to be the coordinator of the racket, was among the 14 suspects arrested last week.

Judith Nabakooba, the Police spokesperson, who paraded the suspects before journalists at Katwe Police Station in Kampala yesterday, said the group mainly operates on Jinja Road, Entebbe Road, Kabalagala, Kajjansi, Kira Road, Nansana, Bukoto and Zana.

She explained that the criminals employ several tactics to dupe their suspects.
Nabakooba cited scenarios where passengers board vehicle which are occupied by criminals who drive off, rob them and abandon them at isolated spots.

In some cases, she said, the victims have been hurt. Nabakooba said the crackdown followed an outcry from the public.

The Police also impounded five vehicles in the operation. “Many people have lost their valuables. The majority were women,” Nabakooba added.

She explained that sometimes the robbers sit next to the driver and when a passenger opens the door to enter the vehicle, they are robbed of their handbags, wallets or phones.

Nabakooba said the robbers sometimes hire genuine commuter taxis from the park with promises of good pay. They use the vehicles to rob passengers before returning them.

She said the Police would continue with the operations and urged the public to be vigilant and report robbery cases.

The Police described the crime as “a new form robbery” in which the suspects have been stealing from unsuspecting passengers travelling in commuter taxis within the city and its suburbs.