Police nabs three machete-wielding robbers

By Jerome Kule Bitswande

KAMPALA - The Police at Katwe Division Police Station are having in custody three men believed to belong to the notorious machete-wielding (bijambiya) gang terrorising residents in different parts of Kampala.

The three have been identified as Keya Farouk alias Benja Mosh, Mwanga Steve alias Doobozi and Benja Musisi, commonly referred to as Mandwa.

The suspects are said to have been operating in areas of Gangu, Kabuuma, Kibiri, Busabala, Katwe, suburbs within and around Kampala.

They are said to have confronted, tied, threatened and caused bodily injuries to five people in those places before stealing their properties between March 28 and 29.

Without divulging the details of the victims, Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire said the victims of the suspects' actions had told the Police that they (suspects) would sometimes leave leaflets warning of their impending attacks.

Owoyesigyire said during its investigations, Police had discovered blood-stained clothes, bed sheets and SIM cards of some of the people that had been robbed.

Aggravated robbery and attempted murder under file number 23/30/03/2018.

The Police say the community played a vital in apprehending the suspects by helping Police identify them.

Owoyesigyire has appealed to the residents of Kampala to keep vigilant and report any suspicious persons.

"Let us all work together, the people should not leave security to Police, if we keep neighbourhood watch, we can curb the crime rate in this country." Owoyesigyire said.

He added that investigations were near completion and would be produced in court on Monday.