Security operatives behind armed robberies, says Police

By Simon Masaba

Security operatives are increasingly getting involved in crimes related to robbery, fraud, impersonation and releasing suspects from custody, police has said.

This comes a few days after police arrested two operatives from the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) over extortion of sh4m from a suspect they picked from Mutundwe police post.

The operatives were identified as Henry Ssenkanzi and Mohammed Kinawa attached to the SIU headquarters in Kireka, a Kampala suburb.

The two operatives, now under police custody at Katwe police station, allegedly robbed sh4m from Kalisita Tumusime.

The Katwe police boss Richard Ecega said: “As they were transferring Tumusime to SIU for interrogation, they put the suspect on gunpoint and later forced him to sell his car."

Tumusime was being held at Mutundwe police post on suspected simple robbery charges before Ssenkanzi intervened to ‘help him out.’

Gunpoint

In a statement to Katwe police, Tumusime said Kinawa placed him on gunpoint and ordered him to drive to his home and choose between selling his house or vehicle in order to pay them.

After selling his car, Tumusiime reported the case to Katwe police.

Ecega said that their file has been has sent to the Residential State Attorney and they will be taken to court to face charges of robbery.

He observed that within a period of less than a month, same related cases involving law enforcement officers are continuing to arise.

Last month the police impounded a Mercedes Benz limousine that was allegedly snatched by security personnel and sold to a businessman in neighboring South Sudan.

Also, last week, the police arrested a Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) operative in connection with an ATM cards scam and attempting to bribe police to set free a Nateete businessman.

The businessman identified as Edward Muliika, was arrested in possession of 50 personal identity cards and over 105 ATM cards.