The Uganda Police Force in Albertine and Kagadi district has carried out a successful operation that resulted in the dismantling of a criminal gang that was terrorising residents in Kigadi with acts of armed violence.
According to Fred Enanga, the Uganda Police spokesperson, who spoke to the media at the police headquarters, the gang was arrested in a joint operation between the police and the UPDF.
“About seven members were arrested out of a joint operation that was conducted by police and UPDF in Muhoro Town Council. They recovered an AK-47, a magazine, four rounds of ammunition, and six pairs of military camouflage clothes,” Enanga stated.
Enanga said that among the seven was a UPDF army deserter, while the other six included a 26-year-old female who served as a bar worker.
“The seven suspects include Private Kato Ivan, a 34-year-old army deserter; Aliganyira Richard, 34, from Kumbi Village in Kyenjojo; Fina Patrick, a barber from Fort Portal City; Luwisa Chris, a 25-year-old Boda Boda man from Rwengoma; Kyaligonza Yassin from Kyakasana village in Kagadi; Agaba Januarius, a 26-year-old manager of Service Point Bar; and Katushabe Natasha, one of the barmaids at Service Point Bar,” Enanga stated.
He noted that the group was being led by the army deserter and that their armed robberies were mainly conducted in Kagadi district, and were using Service Point Bar as their meeting point, planning zone, hideout, and some of the stolen merchandise would be kept at that bar.
The police say that they submitted the gun and ammunition to the ballistics expert to see if there are any hits that can be linked to show whether they used the gun to victimise families and business persons.
The police and UPDF in Kagadi are expanding their investigations to identify other members of the gang and related robberies and have the culprits brought to book.
The Uganda Police Force has made several efforts to combat criminal gangs in Uganda. On September 4, 2023, the territorial police in greater Bushenyi and Sheema districts arrested five suspects who form part of a criminal gang actively involved in cattle thefts in the area.
