Two arrested after CCTV camera captures passengers being robbed

Curbing city robberies: Two arrested after CCTV camera captures passengers being robbed

What you need to know:

  • Allen and Mackay roads sandwich the New Taxi Park on both sides. Criminals target passengers walking with valuables from or to the New Taxi Park and Qualicel Bus Terminal.
  • In March 2016, at least 86 cases of theft of mobile phones were registered in Kampala in December last year with a total value of Shs50.3m.

Days after taxi passengers stuck in traffic jam at Shoprite along Entebbe Road became victims of phone snatching in the city, police tracked down the culprits with the help of recently installed CCTV camera footage on Wednesday.
Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson, Mr Luke Owoyesigyire said Esau Nduhukire was arrested together with Musa Byamukama for being in possession of suspected stolen items.

“Results of the recently installed CCTV cameras are beginning to show up. This follows arrest of Esau Nduhukire recently caught on camera stealing from passengers stuck in traffic jam at Shoprite along Entebbe Road. Charges of theft have been preferred against him. He was arrested together with Musa Byamukama for being in possession of suspected stolen items,” he said.
According to police, Byamukama’s arrest followed Nduhukire’s confession that after stealing, he would later take them to Byamukama for sale.

Both national and Kampala statistics show rampant thefts of smartphones, especially when motorists are stuck in traffic jams, near entertainment places and quiet streets.

Snatching of mobile phones is most common along Entebbe highway, followed by a stretch between New Taxi Park and Busega Township, Bombo Road and Gayaza Road.
In March 2016, at least 86 cases of theft of mobile phones were registered in Kampala with a total value of Shs50.3m. But only phones worth Shs5.9m were recovered. Of the 86 cases, 29 were taken to court where five convictions were secured.

Where the stolen phones end up
In 2014 – between January and June – 5,287 mobile phones were stolen in Uganda compared to 4,027 that were stolen in 2015. Most of these stolen phones end up in markets in neighbouring countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.
Most people fall victim to thieves when they are inside vehicles and cannot get the time to pursue the criminals or seek help instantly. Even those who have attempted to chase the thieves end up being assaulted by those criminals.

Most of the cases under police investigations point at delinquents operating in groups.
The group chooses a member who appears weak in that he will not raise suspicion if he comes closer to someone holding a smartphone.
The boy will then snatch the phone from the unsuspecting victim and walk away.

Notorious spots where your phone could be snatched
Ben Kiwanuka-Clock Tower-Kibuye stretch:
Taxis are often held in traffic jams for more than an hour. Most taxis, if not all, have no air conditioning which forces passengers to open windows wide for fresh air. Phone snatchers take advantage when passengers are using their phones near the open windows.
Kabuye-Katwe-Kalitunsi-Clock Tower
The stretch has slow vehicle traffic and has many getaway alleys which the criminals use to run away.
Ben Kiwanuka Road (Arua Park)
People operating in this street literally never go to sleep. It is always busy. But at night, criminals roam the streets. Despite the street lighting, muggers are there in big numbers. It is the main terminal for South Sudan-bound trucks.

Hoima Road (known as Namirembe Road)
It is a busy road/street with three major bus terminals, and a taxi park. Even deep in the night, public service vehicles continue to drop passengers. Criminals target unsuspecting people, snatch their property and run into slums of Kisenyi, where it is very difficult for the victims to pursue them.

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Shs170m smartphones stolen in Kampala traffic jams

After buying cosmetics from a shop on Duster Street on Wednesday, Betty Katushabe, a woman in her late 50s, entered her car and placed the handbag containing her mobile phones on the co-driver’s seat

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Yusuf Lule Road
Yusuf Lule Road is one of the best roads in the city centre with double lanes and good walkways. It is ideally a safe place for affluent joggers in the evening. Being a shortcut from Mulago area to Jinja highway, some pedestrians use it to cut costs and time. Unfortunately, in the evening it becomes dangerous for pedestrians. Muggers carry out attacks and disappear into the dark Golf Course.

Entebbe Road (Clock Tower)
Traffic is usually heavy and slow in the evening, giving criminals opportunity to snatch phones and handbags. Their main targets are lone pedestrians and people talking on mobile phones in vehicles with lowered windows. Their gate away places are the railway line and water channels.

Nakivubo Road
It is a stretch from Entebbe Road from Indian Temple to Namirembe Road/Hoima Road. Given the fact there are many police booths along the stretch, thugs snatch property and jump over the Nakivubo Channel barrier along the stream. Most victims can’t dare pursue them.
Nakivubo Mews
This road connects the Old Taxi Park to Nakivubo Road. Most of the people in this street are traders since it is a business hub. People often carry money or valuable property on them. Such people are targeted by criminals and it is risky to carry a laptop bag or an expensive phone at night.
Access Road
This road is a short stretch from Kitgum House to Mukwano Roundabout. At night it is deserted and well- lit. Criminals at night come in groups and overpower their victims. After they have got their loot, they run to the adjacent railway line. Police officers at Electoral Commission (nearby) rarely intervene in the pursuit.

Allen Road and Mackay Road
Allen and Mackay roads sandwich the New Taxi Park on both sides. Criminals target passengers walking with valuables from or to the New Taxi Park and Qualicel Bus Terminal. The groups operate in teams of three or more. They attack their victim at once.

Kafumbe-Mukasa Road
In the past, Kafumbe-Mukasa Road was not usable at night because of criminals. But of recent, taxi and bus parks have increased activities along the road. With the increase in night business, crime has also increased.
Nkrumah Road
Unlike the adjacent Nasser Road, Nkrumah Road isn’t well-lit. The only source of light comes from shops. Lone pedestrians suspected to be carrying expensive electronics are attacked by stout criminals who escape to the railway premises which are largely deserted.

Additional reporting by Andrew Bagala