The Crime Intelligence Unit in Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) area, in coordination with the Flying Squad Unit KMP South have busted a taxi crime gang which is behind the murders of female passengers mostly in Kajjansi in Wakiso district.
Fred Enanga, the Police spokesperson said that through the intelligence led operation, the security team arrested four suspects who are part of a taxi criminal gang that has been targeting women, going to work very early in the morning, or returning late from work.
“Disguised as taxi operators, the suspects would lure the female victims to their taxi, where they would strangle and suffocate them using polythene bags. They would proceed to rob their bags, smart phones and other valuables and then dump the bodies of the victims, within Kajjansi Town Council,” Enanga reported.
He said that the task team tracked down the first three suspects who included; Katongole Abbas, Matovu Ronald (both conductors) and Turyashemererwa Herbert.
The fourth and key suspect, Nuwagaba Isaac (32), and driver to the taxis, Enanga said that he was arrested from Rwakimuli cell, Bukinda sub-county, in Rukiga district.
“Upon arrest, a search was conducted and tangible exhibits recovered, including Techno Spark black phones, one with a line of Nassali Jenipher, who was murdered, a Samsung phone with two sim cards, a red hand bag, yellow jumper, 6 mobile covers, cash amounting to sh500,000 among other exhibits,” he said.
In addition, Enanga added that the two taxis operating along Kampala – Entebbe road allegedly used in the commission of the atrocities, under registration number UAU 737T and UAV 473Y, were impounded and parked at Kajjansi Central Police Station.
According to Police, the first incident of abduction and murder occurred on the March 31, 2024, where Awori Judith (25), a waitress at Royal Ark Restaurant in Lweza Cell, Ndejje in Kajjansi Town Council, was found murdered and her body dumped near St. Luke Church in Lweza. The victim was strangled to death from an unknown place and dumped.
Again on April 23, 2024, another body of an unknown female adult was found in a sack at Kawotto cell in Kajjansi Town Council. It was dumped by a male suspect, who was captured on camera, fleeing from the scene, after setting fire on the body of the death victim.
On April 29, 2024, another report was made at Kajjansi Police Station, after another female adult, identified as Nassali Jenipher, was murdered by unknown persons and her body dumped at Bweya cell in Kajjansi town council. The deceased had signs of strangulation, around the neck area, face was blindfolded in a polythene bag.
And then on May 9, 2024, another body of a female adult victim, that was unknown, was found dumped along Jjanja – Lutembe beach road, at around 9:00am, by an unidentified motor vehicle.
On May 15, 2024, report of disappearance of Nangobi Sandra was made at Kajjansi Police Division, by her mother Tendo Sulaina, after the victim left home at Kitende, “B” cell, Kajjansi town council at 5:00am, but did not reach her work place in Makindye. The victim’s phone was switched off and her whereabouts were unknown.
Enanga says that there is substantial evidence linking the gang’s involvement in the disappearance and death of the victims.
“The modus operandi in relation to the deaths of the five women, is similar, and the motive was robbery. We have obtained DNA samples for comparison, with the samples picked from the bodies of the victims and from the two taxis,” he said.
The police mouthpiece, Enanga continues to caution all members of the public who leave their homes very early and those who return late from work, to be very careful, while boarding taxis that are not from the gazetted stage points, and those whose occupants are all male.
He further advises that in such scenarios, it’s better to move in groups because serial killers prey on lone and vulnerable victims.
As inquiries progressed, Enanga showed gratitude to the Joint task teams of Crime intelligence KMP, Flying Squad Unit KMP South, CID KMP and Field Force Unit/General Duties at KMP, for their good work in this violent case.
He said that further efforts are in place to track down the other members of the taxi crime gang.