News
Three more suspects arrested over Nsambya cash robbery
The latest arrests bring the total number of suspects in custody to five, as investigators intensify the hunt for other members of the gang believed to have executed the May 6 robbery.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire. (File photo)
By: Simon Masaba, Journalist @New Vision
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Police have arrested three more suspects in connection with the daylight robbery of more than sh45 million from officials of Riverside Forex Bureau in Nsambya, last month.
The latest arrests bring the total number of suspects in custody to five, as investigators intensify the hunt for other members of the gang believed to have executed the May 6 robbery.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire identified the newly arrested suspects as Farouk Atusasiirwe, alias "Gaza", a resident of Nansana; Ibra Ssemakula alias "Bugalo Mwenda", a resident of Bulenga; and Alex Matovu of Kazo in Kawempe division.
Their arrest follows the earlier apprehension of Yudah Kamoga, alias "Sparta", and Arnold Kayabula, a boda boda rider, who were taken into custody on June 12 after investigators linked them to the robbery.
Police said another suspect, Mohammad Kayiira, a resident of Bukomansimbi district, had earlier been arrested and is believed to be a key figure behind the robbery network.
"The arrested suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue. Efforts are ongoing to trace and arrest other suspects who are still at large," Owoyesigyire said in a statement issued today, June 18, 2026.
The robbery occurred when officials of Riverside Forex Bureau left Bunga Trading Centre carrying $13,000, intending to exchange the money into Uganda shillings at a forex bureau along Kampala Road.
After successfully completing the transaction, the victims set off on a motorcycle carrying sh45.1 million. However, as they approached the Nsambya traffic lights, they were intercepted by a gang riding on six motorcycles.
Incident captured on CCTV
Police said another suspect, Mohammad Kayiira, a resident of Bukomansimbi district, had earlier been arrested and is believed to be a key figure behind the robbery network.
"The arrested suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue. Efforts are ongoing to trace and arrest other suspects who are still at large," Owoyesigyire said in a statement issued today, June 18, 2026.
The robbery occurred when officials of Riverside Forex Bureau left Bunga Trading Centre carrying $13,000, intending to exchange the money into Uganda shillings at a forex bureau along Kampala Road.
After successfully completing the transaction, the victims set off on a motorcycle carrying sh45.1 million. However, as they approached the Nsambya traffic lights, they were intercepted by a gang riding on six motorcycles.
Incident captured on CCTV
The attackers assaulted the victims before making off with the cash in a well-coordinated operation that investigators now believe had been carefully planned.
The robbery, which was captured on Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, attracted widespread public attention after the footage resurfaced during the Heroes Day celebrations, reigniting fears over the return of organised motorcycle-riding robbery gangs in Kampala.
Investigators said an analysis of CCTV footage, witness statements and intelligence gathering has enabled detectives to gradually dismantle the criminal network.
One of the earliest breakthroughs came after detectives recovered a motorcycle bearing registration number UMA 655GK.
A further forensic examination established that the number plate mounted on the motorcycle had been forged to conceal the identity of the bike allegedly used during the robbery.
The investigation has also revived concerns over the resurgence of organised boda boda robbery syndicates that security agencies had significantly weakened through intelligence-led operations conducted in 2022.
According to operatives attached to the Directorate of Crime Intelligence's Flying Squad Unit, many of the gangs operate sophisticated surveillance networks around banks, forex bureaus and other financial institutions.
A Flying Squad operative told New Vision that gang members often disguise themselves as ordinary boda boda riders waiting for passengers while, in reality, they are monitoring customers carrying large sums of money.
"The stages are not about looking for passengers. They are there to identify, monitor and trail people carrying money," the operative said.
While presenting the 2026/27 national budget last week, Finance Minister Henry Musasizi announced a sh10.2 trillion allocation to the security sector.
The funding will support expansion of the national CCTV surveillance system, strengthen crime intelligence operations, enhance forensic investigations and improve community policing as government seeks to counter increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.
The robbery, which was captured on Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, attracted widespread public attention after the footage resurfaced during the Heroes Day celebrations, reigniting fears over the return of organised motorcycle-riding robbery gangs in Kampala.
Investigators said an analysis of CCTV footage, witness statements and intelligence gathering has enabled detectives to gradually dismantle the criminal network.
One of the earliest breakthroughs came after detectives recovered a motorcycle bearing registration number UMA 655GK.
A further forensic examination established that the number plate mounted on the motorcycle had been forged to conceal the identity of the bike allegedly used during the robbery.
The investigation has also revived concerns over the resurgence of organised boda boda robbery syndicates that security agencies had significantly weakened through intelligence-led operations conducted in 2022.
According to operatives attached to the Directorate of Crime Intelligence's Flying Squad Unit, many of the gangs operate sophisticated surveillance networks around banks, forex bureaus and other financial institutions.
A Flying Squad operative told New Vision that gang members often disguise themselves as ordinary boda boda riders waiting for passengers while, in reality, they are monitoring customers carrying large sums of money.
"The stages are not about looking for passengers. They are there to identify, monitor and trail people carrying money," the operative said.
While presenting the 2026/27 national budget last week, Finance Minister Henry Musasizi announced a sh10.2 trillion allocation to the security sector.
The funding will support expansion of the national CCTV surveillance system, strengthen crime intelligence operations, enhance forensic investigations and improve community policing as government seeks to counter increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.