Police crackdown nets 100 suspects
May 19, 2008
OLD Kampala Police station yesterday said officers had arrested over 100 suspected pickpockets and muggers in a dawn swoop in Kisenyi slum areas. Commander Fenny Kyomukama said the operation followed a public outcry over the rise in crime in the area.
By Flavia Nakagwa and Raymond Baguma
OLD Kampala Police station yesterday said officers had arrested over 100 suspected pickpockets and muggers in a dawn swoop in Kisenyi slum areas.
Commander Fenny Kyomukama said the operation followed a public outcry over the rise in crime in the area.
He said the operation targeted muggers, opium smokers, jet-fuel sniffers and thieves based on Mwanga II, Ring and Musajjalumbwa roads.
“The operation was carried out following complaints of muggings in Kisenyi, including theft of phones,†said Kyomukama.
He listed the most common crimes as assault, phone theft and snatching, drug abuse, opium smoking and rape.
“Crime is highest towards the morning when muggers target people going to the market and those travelling upcountry and in the evening when they waylay people returning home.â€
The suspects were taken to the Kampala City Council court at City Hall, where they were charged with disturbing peace.
“These people have nowhere to sleep and never tell us their names. They instead use titles like ‘Commander’ and ‘Colonel,†Kyomukama said.
He added that the security operation to net all suspected criminals was on-going and would cover the entire Old Kampala.
“We have put in place measures to ensure security.
A spate of incidents of armed robbery, burglary, assault and murder have been reported in recent weeks in Kampala and its suburbs, particularly Kisaasi, Najeera, Kulambiro, Ntinda and Kiwatule.
The most prominent incident was the gang-rape of a doctor at her home in Wakiso district, and the shooting of a basketball player, Wilbrod Oketcho, in Najeera, who later died from his gunshot wound.
The Police said among those arrested were hardcore criminals and several ex-convicts netted under Operation Wembley, and released after serving their jail sentences.
Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba last week said 846 suspects had been arrested in 11 districts since April. Also recovered were eight guns, four pistols, one stick grenade, a toy pistol, a machete, three empty magazines and 217 bullets.
OLD Kampala Police station yesterday said officers had arrested over 100 suspected pickpockets and muggers in a dawn swoop in Kisenyi slum areas.
Commander Fenny Kyomukama said the operation followed a public outcry over the rise in crime in the area.
He said the operation targeted muggers, opium smokers, jet-fuel sniffers and thieves based on Mwanga II, Ring and Musajjalumbwa roads.
“The operation was carried out following complaints of muggings in Kisenyi, including theft of phones,†said Kyomukama.
He listed the most common crimes as assault, phone theft and snatching, drug abuse, opium smoking and rape.
“Crime is highest towards the morning when muggers target people going to the market and those travelling upcountry and in the evening when they waylay people returning home.â€
The suspects were taken to the Kampala City Council court at City Hall, where they were charged with disturbing peace.
“These people have nowhere to sleep and never tell us their names. They instead use titles like ‘Commander’ and ‘Colonel,†Kyomukama said.
He added that the security operation to net all suspected criminals was on-going and would cover the entire Old Kampala.
“We have put in place measures to ensure security.
A spate of incidents of armed robbery, burglary, assault and murder have been reported in recent weeks in Kampala and its suburbs, particularly Kisaasi, Najeera, Kulambiro, Ntinda and Kiwatule.
The most prominent incident was the gang-rape of a doctor at her home in Wakiso district, and the shooting of a basketball player, Wilbrod Oketcho, in Najeera, who later died from his gunshot wound.
The Police said among those arrested were hardcore criminals and several ex-convicts netted under Operation Wembley, and released after serving their jail sentences.
Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba last week said 846 suspects had been arrested in 11 districts since April. Also recovered were eight guns, four pistols, one stick grenade, a toy pistol, a machete, three empty magazines and 217 bullets.