Ugandan police have arrested six men suspected of carrying out a string of violent machete robberies in Kampala, marking a significant breakthrough in efforts to dismantle criminal gangs accused of terrorising residents in the city’s western suburbs.
The suspects are being held at Katwe Police Division following investigations into a robbery reported on June 29 in Kabowa, a densely populated suburb in Rubaga Division.
Police say two motorcycles believed to have been used during the attacks have also been impounded as investigators seek to establish whether the group is linked to other aggravated robberies across the Kampala Metropolitan Area.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Racheal Kawala said the arrests followed swift action by members of the public and investigators after one of the alleged attackers was captured at the scene.
“The suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue. We are working to establish whether they are linked to other similar aggravated robbery cases reported within the Kampala Metropolitan Area. Efforts are also underway to identify additional victims and recover any stolen property,” she said.
According to preliminary police findings, the latest attack targeted a businessman who was travelling with his sister to Kironde Zone in Ndeeba Parish to purchase food. Investigators say the pair were intercepted by two men riding motorcycles and armed with machetes. The assailants allegedly assaulted the victims before fleeing with a handbag, a mobile phone and an undisclosed amount of cash.
The attack took a dramatic turn when residents, assisted by first responders, pursued and apprehended one of the suspected robbers, identified by police as Nadir Mutyaba.
He was handed over to Kabowa Police Station, where detectives say information obtained during questioning led to the arrest of five other suspects.
Police identified the additional suspects as Herbert Musinguzi, Patrick Kalyango, Owen Talemwa, Ronald Kyeyune and Ivan Mwase.
Detectives also recovered two motorcycles, registration numbers UMA 281KD and UMA 359EV, which are believed to have been used to transport the suspects during the robberies.
Investigators say preliminary inquiries indicate that the suspects worked as boda boda motorcycle taxi riders operating from Bakiga Boda Boda Stage and Gavan Boda Boda Stage in Kabowa, raising concerns that the motorcycles may have been used to facilitate criminal activities while blending into the city’s busy transport network.
Police have appealed to anyone who may have fallen victim to similar attacks to come forward as investigations continue. Authorities also praised members of the public for their quick response, saying community cooperation remains vital in combating violent crime across the Kampala Metropolitan Area.
