Uganda Police have come out to clear the air about the circulating social media CCTV video depicting a robbery incident that occurred at one of the roundabouts in Kampala during broad daylight.
Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson has said that the circulating video occurred in 2022 at the Buganda Road Y-junction near City Oil on Bombo Road.
In this incident, Owoyesigyire says that a group of thugs targeted an engineer who was carrying sh30m in his bag.
“Although the victim managed to escape, the suspects successfully seized the money. Our investigations identified the perpetrators as Abdullamani Bakata alias Pancho, Emmanuel Nsubuga, Augustine Wanandya, and Ivan Muwanda,” he reveals.
Additionally, he says that this group was connected to another violent robbery involving Mr. Dawit Kasa, a diplomat from the Ethiopian Embassy.
For the second incident, OWoyesigyire reveals that it occurred on February 25, 2022, along Prince Charles Avenue in Kololo.
He adds that the assailants robbed Mr. Kasa of sh2.8m and a laptop, leaving him unconscious.
“In response to these criminal activities, the Kampala Metropolitan Police, in collaboration with the Flying Squad, conducted several operations. These efforts led to the apprehension of the suspects mentioned above and the recovery of multiple items, including motorcycles, 20 mobile phones, ATM cards, and identification documents from various victims. During an operation in Kisenyi, one gang member, identified as Alipanda, was neutralized,” he said, adding that the suspects are now on remand at Luzira Prison, awaiting trial.
The Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson also assures the public that;
“We remain vigilant and proactive in our fight against crime. Many of the videos circulating on social media related to these incidents are outdated and have been effectively addressed by our law enforcement actions. To further ensure public safety, we have intensified street patrols and enhanced our surveillance capabilities with advanced CCTV systems. We urge the public to stay calm and to report any suspicious activities to the authorities.”