6 robbers shot dead in Kampala

Oct 21, 2003

IT took the Violent Crimes Crack Unit (VCCU) operatives over five hours to neutralise six robbers in a wild chase around Kampala City yesterday.

By Geoffrey Kamali

IT took the Violent Crimes Crack Unit (VCCU) operatives over five hours to neutralise six robbers in a wild chase around Kampala City yesterday.

The scene was reminiscent of the time in 2001 when many robbers who had virtually taken over the city, were killed.

Yesterday, VCCU with at least four Police patrol cars exchanged heavy gunfire with the robbers in the city, in a Hollywood style chase that ended with all the robbers dead.

A gun with 19 bullets was recovered, indicating the robbers were still well stocked after the five-hour chase.

A white Toyota Corona car, a black numberless motor cycle and two forged number plates were recovered.

The thugs are Umar Ssenyonjo, a taxi driver of Buziga stage at the Old taxi park, Edward Ssenyonjo of Ntinda and a vendor at St Balikuddembe Market, and Ronald Soka, a special hire driver of Bukoto stage.

Others were Moses Kayemba, a witch doctor of Kamwokya, a heavily-built bodaboda cyclist, Dan Tumwesigye alias Mukiiga operating opposite the old Taxi Park and Isaac Lubega of Mbuya. This is the highest number of robbers killed in Kampala on a single day this year.

It all started when an informer sighted Edward Ssenyonjo, a wanted criminal among a suspicious group of people standing at Shell filling station at 7:30am and called the VCCU.

The thugs were probably targeting the previous night’s sales.

When the VCCU men arrived, one thug drew a gun he had hidden in his jacket and shot at the security men.

The VCCU responded with fire and a chase ensued.

Two thugs jumped on the high-speed 125cc motorcycle while the rest made off in a gate-away corona and headed towards the city.

They swiftly beat the trademark traffic jam at the Clock Tower and moved towards Container Village, Namirembe Road, Old Kampala, Wandegeya, Kamwokya, Bukoto, Ntinda and met a dead end at Kisosonkole zone, Naalya, north east of Kampala.

VCCU blocked off potential escape routes and finally cornered the thugs at Naalya where the thugs finally battled for their lives.

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