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KAMPALA - Six men armed with axes have been netted in a security operation in Kawempe suburbs division, Kampala City.

The Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) spokesperson Patrick Onyango said the Intelligence-led operations on Wednesday night were conducted in areas of Muganda and Kidokolo zone Ttula ward in Kawempe division on Wednesday.  

Police recovered an assortment of other items including a cache of police and military uniforms used by the gang, who have since been connected to house break-ins late in the night.

“An intelligence-led operation was conducted after receiving information from reliable a source that some suspects were in possession of suspected government stores to wit Police uniforms and breaking implement Pangas and Axes. After arrests, a search was conducted and a number of suspected items were recovered, including army camouflage trousers and opium among other items,” Onyango said. 

The suspects

By Thursday morning, Onyango said the booked suspects arrested for being in possession of government stores and breaking implement are: Ramathan Ssekandi a resident of Kiganda Ttula ward Kawempe division, Richard Sserugo, Siraj Ssenabulya and Bashir Mwagala, Brain Onen and Samson Mpogoni.

All the suspects are charged with being in possession of government stores to wit Police Caps, trousers, and breaking implements.

Gangs, Night raids

Fears over safety in homes at night have been raised after gangs raided two different homes and robbed owners of property worth millions, including a car.

The raiders are also accused of raping several women in the homes that were attacked in Wakiso district.

The assailants, linked to a new criminal gang operating in the Kampala Metropolitan Policing (KMP) area, are usually armed with pangas and iron bars, among other metallic objects, according to Police.

Recently, Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said they were investigating reports of attacks on two homes in Nakuwadde village and Kitende in Kajjansi, both in Waksio district.

Enanga said four members of the criminal gang first attacked the home of Ivan Munanura in Nakuwadde, where they stole electronics worth sh2.8m and repeatedly gang-raped a 20-year-old Senior school student.

To curb the emerging crime, Enanga said the Police’s Flying Squad is hunting for the gang members using leads from Muwanguzi, who was picked in March.

To intensify the fight against crime, Police last year announced a robust plan to combat the spiraling crime rate, characterised by cases of robbery and burglary.

Police, among other measures, set up rapid response teams in zones to ensure that all robberies reported are promptly responded to. So far, Police have busted 52 criminal gangs since 2018.