The arrest of a one Augustine Bugeregere aka Buule a notorious machete- wielding gang leader on Wednesday 15th May came as good news to the people of Kiryabulo village who for long had joined the hands with security to bring down the gang.
Speaking to Internal Security Organization Officers on Friday 17th May, at the organization’s head quarters a group of the natives (Local council members) led by Capt. Aisha who has coordinated the group in providing information that led the arrest of the gang members to ISO, disclosed that the panga wileding thugs have terrorized the area for over ten years.
The Chairman L.C.I of Kiryabulo who was part of the group said that they have been in the fight against the thugs in coordination with police for more than ten years. “Bugeregere has been a very dangerous and serial trouble causer in our area for more than ten years,” the chairman said.
He added that Bugeregere has been working with a bigger gang whose members include Musa Galiwango who is serving in Luzira and Kidawalime who was killed in an operation by joint forces trying to comprehend them.
The Chairman narrated that the issues of these criminals were tabled at both, , family level, local council level and Police levels before they run out of hand to cause more terror and pain to the natives of greater Masaka.
Lifestyle lived by Bugeregere
The witnesses narrated that at one point it was vivid that Bugeregere who did not have any known job, was putting up developments that included building permanent houses for residential and tenants and buying several Boda Boda motorcycles, a thing that raised suspicions in the natives.
According to the natives Bugeregere was called in a village meeting and quizzed over his developments and suspicions but he denied any involvement in crime, swearing to the sword that he should be killed if they ever get him terrorizing natives.
However one Yasin Batte a reserve force member who aided in Bugeregere’s arrest told the Explorer that he separated with his first wife in a terrible disagreement linked to his involvement in Crime. “ The wife told us on several occasions that the husband ( Bugeregere) used to come with blood dripping pangas which he always dumped in the toilet a thing that always sparked off a fight among the couple,’” Batte narrated.
The group also said that Bugeregere used to disappear from the village whenever crime was committed and returned when the hunt for the criminals seized. On several occasions he was spotted sneaking into Galiwango’s home.
Involvement with Police officers
The local council members also narrated that on several occasions Bugeregere was arrested but released with no explanation from Police.
They Pointed out one Kabojja Hammidu who was an OC that often released criminals of that gang and allege that he could have been directly involved with the thugs. “ Kabojja often times released criminals of that particular gang and on several occasions the intelligence information on criminals that we often gave him was passed on to the criminals who used to revenge on us,” one of the Local Council members said.
He added that their lives are at stake for testifying against these thugs if they are released without being charged.
Meanwhile, panga wielding gangs and crimes hit headlines with terror acts on natives last year until some of the gang members like Galwango were arrested and others killed during the process of arrest.
the Director general of ISO Col. Kaka Bagyenda on Wednesday talking to the explorer said said that the hunt goes on until the people of greater Masaka can have sleep nights.
He urged members of the community to corporate with Security organization in this fight.
