Roberries, murders, on the rise: What are the issues?
Sep 24, 2008
AT least 20 people have been killed in night robberies in Kampala and its suburbs since August.
By Joshua Kato
AT least 20 people have been killed in night robberies in Kampala and its suburbs since August.
Last month, most cases were recorded in Nabweru and Nansana in Wakiso as well as Kawempe in Kampala, but by mid-September, the murders had spread out to Nangabo, Namasuba, Najjanankumbi, Kireka and Mukono district.
The assailants previously used metal bars, clubs and big stones to attack their victims, but in the recent past, four people were gunned down.
The killers might be more than common criminals. The style in which they operate has nurtured the speculation that they could be rebels. They always surprise their victims and move swiftly, from one area to another on motorbikes. In fact, in one night, the same group can attack people in Kiteezi, Wakiso; Mpererwe and Kasangati, north of Kampala and Kira and Kireka, east of Kampala. Rebels are known to frighten civilians from moving out at night so that they can move around freely. However, those who have been arrested by the Police are not different from the common criminals. At least three people have been shot this month. The recent shooting of the FAULU auditor, Sheila Isingoma, was planned. She was reportedly tracked from the city centre, to near her home in Namasuba.
Another victim, Francis Muhindo, a businessman, was shot dead at his shop in Seeta three weeks ago. The attackers may have wanted money.
Around the same period, Steven Mugulumbya, a mechanic in Bwaise was shot at Nakulabye, a day after Muhindo’s murder. The assailants, however, took nothing from him.
It is only in Isingoma’s incident that the murderers fumbled with the gun before shooting her.
“These incidents were targeted and not just robberies. Muhindo’s was a robbery and murder. What is important for us in security is to find out why guns are involved, yet we previously dealt with crude weapons like knives and bars,†says a security officer. The officer links it to private security guards.
However, around the same period, the Rapid Response Unit arrested several criminals with guns, including a UPDF soldier. In Kisenyi, on September 10, a UPDF soldier, Ronald Mutebi, shot several people in a bar when they refused to surrender their money to him.
Also, the recent bank robberies at Crane Bank and Bank of Baroda were orchestrated by private security guards, who were guarding. Over sh300m was stolen from Baroda. In the Crane Bank incident, thugs are suspected to have connived with the security guards to drill a hole at the bank.
Assault using iron bars has also continued despite a Police swoop in the city. Three culprits who were arrested at the Northern By-pass reportedly confessed they were just thieves. They do not target a particular person. “We just hit a man in Ntinda, a Kampala suburb, but he turned out to be a drunkard who had nothing,†Mutyaba, one of the attackers recently confessed.
However, the high crime rate at this time of the year is not new. In 2006, crime rate rose around this period. However, around this time last year, crime was low because of the heightened security in preparation for the Commonwealth summit.
“Some of the criminals had been arrested and after serving their sentences, they just resumed,†says Edward Ochom, the Police Commander for Kampala Extra Region.
Wakiso resident district commissioner Abbas Sseguya says most of the thugs are known in their communities. So if the community worked with the Police, crime could be handled.
Security blames the increasing crime rate on rising populations and massive unemployment. “People are settling in the city and LCs do not keep track of them,†Sseguya adds.
However, according to the Police spokesperson for Kampala extra, Simeo Nsubuga, they have reports that some LCs know the thieves, but hide them whenever there is a Police operation. Ochom says last week an anonymous caller gave information that led to the arrest of five men suspected to be part of a gang that attacks people with blunt objects and robs them.
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HOW TO SURVIVE THEM
------------------------------
-Don’t move alone at night.
-Watch out for boda-bodas parked in isolated areas.
-Watch out for people moving in groups.
-Hire only boda-bodas whom you know.
-Do not expose your money unnecessarily.
-Hire a watchman and a dog to guard your home.
AT least 20 people have been killed in night robberies in Kampala and its suburbs since August.
Last month, most cases were recorded in Nabweru and Nansana in Wakiso as well as Kawempe in Kampala, but by mid-September, the murders had spread out to Nangabo, Namasuba, Najjanankumbi, Kireka and Mukono district.
The assailants previously used metal bars, clubs and big stones to attack their victims, but in the recent past, four people were gunned down.
The killers might be more than common criminals. The style in which they operate has nurtured the speculation that they could be rebels. They always surprise their victims and move swiftly, from one area to another on motorbikes. In fact, in one night, the same group can attack people in Kiteezi, Wakiso; Mpererwe and Kasangati, north of Kampala and Kira and Kireka, east of Kampala. Rebels are known to frighten civilians from moving out at night so that they can move around freely. However, those who have been arrested by the Police are not different from the common criminals. At least three people have been shot this month. The recent shooting of the FAULU auditor, Sheila Isingoma, was planned. She was reportedly tracked from the city centre, to near her home in Namasuba.
Another victim, Francis Muhindo, a businessman, was shot dead at his shop in Seeta three weeks ago. The attackers may have wanted money.
Around the same period, Steven Mugulumbya, a mechanic in Bwaise was shot at Nakulabye, a day after Muhindo’s murder. The assailants, however, took nothing from him.
It is only in Isingoma’s incident that the murderers fumbled with the gun before shooting her.
“These incidents were targeted and not just robberies. Muhindo’s was a robbery and murder. What is important for us in security is to find out why guns are involved, yet we previously dealt with crude weapons like knives and bars,†says a security officer. The officer links it to private security guards.
However, around the same period, the Rapid Response Unit arrested several criminals with guns, including a UPDF soldier. In Kisenyi, on September 10, a UPDF soldier, Ronald Mutebi, shot several people in a bar when they refused to surrender their money to him.
Also, the recent bank robberies at Crane Bank and Bank of Baroda were orchestrated by private security guards, who were guarding. Over sh300m was stolen from Baroda. In the Crane Bank incident, thugs are suspected to have connived with the security guards to drill a hole at the bank.
Assault using iron bars has also continued despite a Police swoop in the city. Three culprits who were arrested at the Northern By-pass reportedly confessed they were just thieves. They do not target a particular person. “We just hit a man in Ntinda, a Kampala suburb, but he turned out to be a drunkard who had nothing,†Mutyaba, one of the attackers recently confessed.
However, the high crime rate at this time of the year is not new. In 2006, crime rate rose around this period. However, around this time last year, crime was low because of the heightened security in preparation for the Commonwealth summit.
“Some of the criminals had been arrested and after serving their sentences, they just resumed,†says Edward Ochom, the Police Commander for Kampala Extra Region.
Wakiso resident district commissioner Abbas Sseguya says most of the thugs are known in their communities. So if the community worked with the Police, crime could be handled.
Security blames the increasing crime rate on rising populations and massive unemployment. “People are settling in the city and LCs do not keep track of them,†Sseguya adds.
However, according to the Police spokesperson for Kampala extra, Simeo Nsubuga, they have reports that some LCs know the thieves, but hide them whenever there is a Police operation. Ochom says last week an anonymous caller gave information that led to the arrest of five men suspected to be part of a gang that attacks people with blunt objects and robs them.
------------------------------
HOW TO SURVIVE THEM
------------------------------
-Don’t move alone at night.
-Watch out for boda-bodas parked in isolated areas.
-Watch out for people moving in groups.
-Hire only boda-bodas whom you know.
-Do not expose your money unnecessarily.
-Hire a watchman and a dog to guard your home.