Suspected city robbery gang leader arrested

Jul 07, 2011

THE Police yesterday paraded a man said to be Kampala’s kingpin gangster, behind most of the petty and serious crimes in the city.

By Steven Candia and Jeff Lule

THE Police yesterday paraded a man said to be Kampala’s kingpin gangster, behind most of the petty and serious crimes in the city.

Addressing journalists at the Central Police Station yesterday, Kampala Police chief Grace Turyagumanawe said Paddy Serunjoji alias Shobi was netted on July 4 at his home in Wajuba village in Wakiso district, together with his 34-year-old wife, Teddy Waseje, and friend Robert Kyanjo, a boda boda rider.

Turyagumanawe said Shobi and his gang had terrorised the city for long, making some parts no-go areas.

Serunjoji had escaped arrest the previous night at a music concert at Nakivubo.

Turyagumanawe said Shobi and his colleagues operated mainly at night, targeting music concerts.

According to the Police, he would use children to spy on possible targets and tip him off. The group would then waylay their victims, punch, strangle or bludgeon them with iron bars, before making off with their valuables, which they would later sell as second-hand items.

Turyagumanawe said the Police recovered 25 flashy mobile phones, bows and arrows, a Police baton and handcuffs, 16 wallets, handbags, a pen knife and an iron bar from Shobi’s house.

Other items include a pair of binoculars, a camera and a cap similar to that of security agencies.

As Turyagumanawe spoke, Shobi repeatedly interrupted him, refuting the allegations. The Police were forced to eject him from the room. As he was taken away, he accused Turyagumanawe of having an axe to grind with him for working closely with CID boss Edward Ochom.

Turyagumanawe said the Police had launched the hunt for the gangsters to stamp out crime from the city.

He identified those working with Shobi as Nicholas General alias the Boxer, who operates in Bwaise; Tonny Magulu, the head of the Score group in Katwe; Moses Murugwara, the head of Kasubi, Moses Magulu, the leader of Kabaka’s Lake cell; one only identified as Swakira, who heads Kisenyi; Fox, who operates at City Complex; Abdu Don, the head of the Natete cell; Najib, the head of Kinyoro Katwe; Farouk alias Boxer, the head of Lubaga Road cell, Batte, the head of Kawempe, Sekatawa and Adam, who operate on Gayaza Road and Baker Bakari, who operates in Kanyanya.

“We are going to hunt for them,” Turyagumanawe said.

He was flanked by Kampala South and Kampala East Police bosses Moses Kafeero and Stephen Tanui.

Six victims of the gang had already reported to the Police to claim their property and open cases against the suspect.


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