Thugs terrorise city suburbs

By Brian Mayanja

Thugs are back in the city for Easter. Residents of Kisaasi, Bweyogerere, Kireka, Bulenga and Kawempe are already counting losses and some people have even killed. Even Police posts have not been spared.

There were reports that Mpala Police post in Entebbe was raided recently and thugs went away with guns. But Kampala Metropolitan Police commander Andrew Felix Kaweesi said only one gun was taken.

“I am not sure the policeman did not sell that gun to the thugs because he was drinking with them,” Kaweesi told Saturday Vision yesterday.

Last week, machete-wielding robbers raided Bweyogerere, broke into people’s houses and took their property.

In Kisaasi, another city suburb, Amon Mwebasa, a businessman, was killed and his sister, Gloria Kekimuli, injured when thugs raided his shop. Mwebasa has been a mobile money agent.

This week, robbers stole two vehicles in Bulenga on Mityana Road.

Kaweesi said the thugs had served sentences in prisons and resumed stealing upon release.

According to Bukedde newspaper, Kaweesi named 12 gangs, which he said operate in Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono.

They include Bukolwa crew, which operates in Katwe and Kisenyi, Naguru Arrow Boys and Cheap Stores, which is composed of mainly women. Others are Bipanda Crew, Sobbi, Bad life (operates in Wandegeya), Kasolo Boys (terrorise Bwaise), Northern Bypass and Kawempe. Babbuli group operates in Kasubi and Nakulabye.

According to Kaweesi, in Wakiso district, a group called Lukanga operates in Zzana, Namasuba, Sseguku and Kitende. They also terrorise people during daytime.