Police in Kampala have arrested three men suspected of belonging to a gang accused of carrying out a series of robberies targeting people transporting money on motorcycles.
The arrests follow an investigation into an incident on 17 August in the Bukoto Heights area, where a cashier from Tilupati was allegedly attacked by two men travelling on a motorcycle while she was heading to a bank.
In a statement issued by the Kampala Metropolitan police deputy spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, the suspects allegedly grabbed her bag containing about 22 million Ugandan shillings ($6,000) and fled. The case was reported at Kira Road Police Station.
He said two suspects were arrested on 19 September, and police recovered a motorcycle they believe was used in the robbery. A third suspect was arrested on 24 September, when two more motorcycles were recovered, police said.
The suspects have been identified as Sadic Byanyima, Joseph Waibale and Ivan Kisongode.
Police allege that the three acted as motorcycle riders during the robberies.
Investigators have also linked the suspects to other incidents, including the theft of about 10 million shillings from a person carrying money from a bank in the Mpererwe area in January, according to police.
They are also suspected of involvement in a robbery targeting a Nigerian national near the US Embassy on 24 August.
Police said four motorcycles believed to have been used by the gang have so far been impounded. They include motorcycles with registration numbers UMA 366LZ, UMA 018MX, UMA 073NP and UMA 018NX, all reportedly Haojue models.
Police said the investigation had also identified other suspected members of the group who remain at large. Officers are pursuing them and investigating their alleged roles.
The three suspects remain in police custody and are expected to be taken to court once investigations are complete, police said.
Kampala Metropolitan Police said operations targeting criminal gangs accused of robbing people carrying money and other valuables were continuing, and urged members of the public to report suspicious activity to the nearest police station.
The statement was issued by ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, deputy public relations officer for Kampala Metropolitan Police.
