Iron bar hitmen come back for Xmas
Nov 15, 2010
AS we prepare for Christmas and end of year festivities, iron bar hitmen have resurfaced, terrorising many parts of Kampala and its suburbs. <br><i>Paddy Nsobya</i> writes the <br>chilling stories
AS we prepare for Christmas and end of year festivities, iron bar hitmen have resurfaced, terrorising many parts of Kampala and its suburbs.
Paddy Nsobya writes the
chilling stories
Joseph Kanyike left home at 5:00am to go to work, but half a kilometre away from home, danger was waiting for him. Before reaching the main road where he would get a taxi, iron-bar hit men struck.
When daylight came, residents of Kireku near Bweyogerere in Wakiso district were shocked to see somebody lying flat at the railway crossing point. They called the Police, which took Kanyike to Mulago. On reaching the mortuary, they discovered he was still breathing and he was taken to the casualty ward.
At the British American Tobacco (BAT) where Kanyike works, colleagues thought he had skipped work that day. Back at his uncle’s home, where he lives, they he was at work. They only became uneasy when night fell and he was not back. His phone was also off. They tried to call a few friends, but none of them knew his whereabouts.
The following day, Kanyike’s uncle went to BAT and was told he had not worked the previous day.
However, news had spread that iron bar hit men had attacked people around Bweyogerere.
“His uncle went to look for him in the mortuary but did not find him. He then went to the casualty ward and there he was,†said Mrs. Mercy Muwanga, Kanyike’s aunt. “He had just got the job.â€
Kanyike is is still on medication for pain and he sometimes makes uncoordinated statements. “Doctors told us his brain will stabilise after some time,†said Mrs. Muwanga.
Kanyike is not an isolated victim. In many places around Kampala, iron bar hit men are striking again. Mainly in groups of two to three, the gangs hang out in dark roadside covers in early morning or late in the night. They attack mostly those who move alone.
Normally, one thug pretends to be walking slowly alone on the road. As soon as the victim draws near, others jump out of their hiding and pounce on the victim. They surprise the victim so that he is not able to make an alarm. They then go on to remove any valuable items they can find in the bag or pocket.
Whereas the practice is spread all around Kampala, the belt between Bweyogerere and Mukono appears to be the most dangerous.
In Seeta near Mukono, three people have been struck dead and others left unconscious in recent weeks. Among the deceased include Namubiru Josephine who was struck near Ridar Hotel at about 6:00am. The thugs found her at a stall frying cassava. They took her mobile phone and money.
Near Seeta, at Nantabuulirirwa, a journalist, Dickson Ssentongo, was struck dead but the assailants took none of his possessions.
Other individuals identified by the Police as Lutalo Steven, John Nkugwa, Moses Lubulwa and Jackson Seremba were struck but survived.
The OC of Seeta Police station, Abdul Nasser, said the Police has held sensitisation meetings with the communities but residents have not been cooperative.
In Mukono Division, the danger zone is Butebe. The area LC1 chairman, Richard Aliwaali, said many of his people have been struck with iron bars by unknown people.
Last month, Saad Kalyango, a teacher at Vincent Alex Primary School in Mukono town, was struck dead as he returned home in the night. His phone, shoes and money were stolen.
At Namasuba on the Kampala-Entebbe highway, an LC1 chairman, Fred Kabanda said two people had been struck within two weeks. They were, however, not residents of the area. One was identified as John Ntambi, a trader in Kisekka Market and the other was not identified.
Kabanda attributes the rise in the crime to the approach of Christmas festivities. He warned residents to be careful, especially those who return from work late or go very early in the morning.
Ronald Sserunkuuma, 24, a second year student of information technology at Datamine Techinical and Business Institute was hit in Najjanankumbi in August. “I had been watching a football match and on my way home, I found three men. Two stood on one side of the road and the other on the opposite side,†he said. As Sserunkuuma passed in between, one struck him and he fell. Others joined beat, searched him and took sh5,000. “That is the money I had on me. They did not see my phone,†he said. “I managed to escape and ran home.â€
The LC1 chairperson of Najjanankumbi’s Namuli zone, David Musisi, said iron bar attacks are rampant in his area but many victims don’t report to authorities. He said Kiwanuka and Kagabi roads are deadly spots, where thugs operate. He appealed to Police to identify such spots and work with LCs to arrest the thugs.
In Kalerwe, the criminal investigations chief, Edward Musinguzi, said the thugs have changed from iron bars to knives to avoid easy detection.
“For three months, we have not recorded any iron bar case but we are getting reports that thugs now wield knives. They waylay traders on the roads and threaten to stab them if they don’t surrender money,†he said.
“We have arrested one of their leaders, one Itwau, with exhibits and he is awaiting trial at the High Court. But his colleagues are still operating,’ Musinguzi said.
Paddy Nsobya writes the
chilling stories
Joseph Kanyike left home at 5:00am to go to work, but half a kilometre away from home, danger was waiting for him. Before reaching the main road where he would get a taxi, iron-bar hit men struck.
When daylight came, residents of Kireku near Bweyogerere in Wakiso district were shocked to see somebody lying flat at the railway crossing point. They called the Police, which took Kanyike to Mulago. On reaching the mortuary, they discovered he was still breathing and he was taken to the casualty ward.
At the British American Tobacco (BAT) where Kanyike works, colleagues thought he had skipped work that day. Back at his uncle’s home, where he lives, they he was at work. They only became uneasy when night fell and he was not back. His phone was also off. They tried to call a few friends, but none of them knew his whereabouts.
The following day, Kanyike’s uncle went to BAT and was told he had not worked the previous day.
However, news had spread that iron bar hit men had attacked people around Bweyogerere.
“His uncle went to look for him in the mortuary but did not find him. He then went to the casualty ward and there he was,†said Mrs. Mercy Muwanga, Kanyike’s aunt. “He had just got the job.â€
Kanyike is is still on medication for pain and he sometimes makes uncoordinated statements. “Doctors told us his brain will stabilise after some time,†said Mrs. Muwanga.
Kanyike is not an isolated victim. In many places around Kampala, iron bar hit men are striking again. Mainly in groups of two to three, the gangs hang out in dark roadside covers in early morning or late in the night. They attack mostly those who move alone.
Normally, one thug pretends to be walking slowly alone on the road. As soon as the victim draws near, others jump out of their hiding and pounce on the victim. They surprise the victim so that he is not able to make an alarm. They then go on to remove any valuable items they can find in the bag or pocket.
Whereas the practice is spread all around Kampala, the belt between Bweyogerere and Mukono appears to be the most dangerous.
In Seeta near Mukono, three people have been struck dead and others left unconscious in recent weeks. Among the deceased include Namubiru Josephine who was struck near Ridar Hotel at about 6:00am. The thugs found her at a stall frying cassava. They took her mobile phone and money.
Near Seeta, at Nantabuulirirwa, a journalist, Dickson Ssentongo, was struck dead but the assailants took none of his possessions.
Other individuals identified by the Police as Lutalo Steven, John Nkugwa, Moses Lubulwa and Jackson Seremba were struck but survived.
The OC of Seeta Police station, Abdul Nasser, said the Police has held sensitisation meetings with the communities but residents have not been cooperative.
In Mukono Division, the danger zone is Butebe. The area LC1 chairman, Richard Aliwaali, said many of his people have been struck with iron bars by unknown people.
Last month, Saad Kalyango, a teacher at Vincent Alex Primary School in Mukono town, was struck dead as he returned home in the night. His phone, shoes and money were stolen.
At Namasuba on the Kampala-Entebbe highway, an LC1 chairman, Fred Kabanda said two people had been struck within two weeks. They were, however, not residents of the area. One was identified as John Ntambi, a trader in Kisekka Market and the other was not identified.
Kabanda attributes the rise in the crime to the approach of Christmas festivities. He warned residents to be careful, especially those who return from work late or go very early in the morning.
Ronald Sserunkuuma, 24, a second year student of information technology at Datamine Techinical and Business Institute was hit in Najjanankumbi in August. “I had been watching a football match and on my way home, I found three men. Two stood on one side of the road and the other on the opposite side,†he said. As Sserunkuuma passed in between, one struck him and he fell. Others joined beat, searched him and took sh5,000. “That is the money I had on me. They did not see my phone,†he said. “I managed to escape and ran home.â€
The LC1 chairperson of Najjanankumbi’s Namuli zone, David Musisi, said iron bar attacks are rampant in his area but many victims don’t report to authorities. He said Kiwanuka and Kagabi roads are deadly spots, where thugs operate. He appealed to Police to identify such spots and work with LCs to arrest the thugs.
In Kalerwe, the criminal investigations chief, Edward Musinguzi, said the thugs have changed from iron bars to knives to avoid easy detection.
“For three months, we have not recorded any iron bar case but we are getting reports that thugs now wield knives. They waylay traders on the roads and threaten to stab them if they don’t surrender money,†he said.
“We have arrested one of their leaders, one Itwau, with exhibits and he is awaiting trial at the High Court. But his colleagues are still operating,’ Musinguzi said.