The Uganda Police have carried out an operation to crack down on the increased robberies targeting foreigners.
According to Luke Owoyesigire, the Deputy Police Spokesperson, the operation was carried out by the Kampala Metropolitan Police in collaboration with the Directorate of Crime Intelligence.
“In a proactive response to a surge in motorbike-related robberies targeting foreigners, we have executed a targeted intelligence-led operation today along the Nakuvubo water channel opposite the Namayiba bus terminal,” Owoyesigire said.
Owoyesigire said that it was during this operation that a group of suspected thugs were apprehended.
“In the process of securing the suspects for transport, three individuals managed to evade custody by fleeing into the water channel,” Owoyesigire said.
“In an attempt to prevent their escape, law enforcement discharged bullets, resulting in injuries to one suspect who was identified as Okello Abu,” he added.
The Deputy Police Spokesperson said that unfortunately, Okello succumbed to the sustained injuries despite immediate medical attention, and his body was conveyed to the city mortuary in Mulago for a post-mortem investigation.
Owoyesigire said that during an interrogation, Yoram Mwebesa, who was the remaining arrested suspect, gave them information, which led the task force to Kamwokya, where Yahaya Ssenyonga was apprehended and a motorcycle with registration number UEZ 855H was recovered.
He added that investigations revealed that this motorcycle matched the one that was used in the recent robbery along Ssezibwa Road on November 15, 2023, where He Wei, a Chinese national, was robbed of 190,000 USD by a gang on motorcycles.
He said that on reviewing CCTV footage, it was confirmed that the arrested suspect, Ssenyonga, was indeed seen riding the same motorcycle that was recovered.
Police appeals to businessmen within Kampala to be cautious when transporting large sums of cash, adding that security can be availed if requested to ensure safe transactions.
