The police’s Flying Squad Unit has tracked and arrested 13 suspected thugs in regard to the recent street mugging and robberies that have often been captured by Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras.
Under the command of Senior Superintendent of Police –SSP Andrew Kaggwa, flying squad operatives first reviewed all the clips showing people suspected to be carrying money being mugged and stabbed on various streets of Kampala, its outskirts and other upcountry towns.
The operations started mid-last week until 13 people seen in the CCTV footage that has been going viral were captured.
Commissioner of Police Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson, identified the suspects as Abdullahman Bakata alias Pancho, Gordon Ssegirinya, Mugerwa Abdul, Wanada Augustine, Nsubuga Emmanuel, Mukasa Michael, Muwada UIvan, Bukenya Joseph, Tomusange Derrick, Sonko Ashraf, Muhammad Kintu and Nsubuga Hood.
Police records show Pancho has been arrested several times in connection to street mugging but he often gets out of jail through court bail.
Security says Pancho has been the commander of many robbery groups. Pancho’s accomplices often mobilise themselves and raise the money which they use to secure him court bail.
“Bakata Abdullahman alias Pancho has been arrested several times,” Enanga said. “He has been benefiting from the non- stringent bail conditions. He and Ssegirinya Gordon are the ringleaders. Since we arrested them, we have not had new attacks.”
One of the latest victims of Pancho’s group is an Ethiopian diplomat who was attacked on February 25 at Prince Charles Drive in Kololo. The gang moves on seven motorcycles and they waylay their targets in broad daylight.
Security says the group was responsible for the attack on Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu near Green Hill Academy. What is shocking police and other security agencies is the fact that these gangs do not hide their identities and in most cases they commit their crimes in areas covers by CCTV cameras.
“An assortment of exhibits was recovered in their areas of operations,” Enanga said. “We have seven motorcycles that have been identified. We have blacklisted them. The motorcycles are being used in violent attacks, against pedestrians and business persons traveling on Boda-boda.”
Security suspects that some of the victims have been attacked following tip-off by the people they work with. This is because a Chinese person was seen in a Premio that was in some of the attacks.
Some of the areas where the gang have victimized people suspected to be taking money to banks or coming from financial institutions include Kololo, William Street, Wilson Street, Industrial Area, Namirembe, Bugolobi, Kireka, Nansana, Kisenyi, Luzira and Jinja City. URN