10 people killed monthly, survey reveals

Kampala

Friday, September 13, began as a normal day for Innocent Birimumaiso. After going about some errands in town, he reported for duty at Kolugi Supermarket in Nateete, a Kampala suburb, where he worked as a night supervisor.

However, a bright evening turned tragic when an armed man walked into the supermarket, shot Birimumaiso dead and placed his three workmates at gunpoint before making off with an unspecified amount of money.

Three suspects were later arrested over killing the 32-year-old, whose death added to a growing number of people being killed by criminals in Kampala Metropolitan area. A survey by the Daily Monitor shows that nearly 30 people have been shot dead in the past three months in Wakiso, Kampala and Mukono districts, which form the Kampala Metropolitan area. This means about 10 people are shot to death by thugs monthly.

The number could be even higher considering that the survey was done mainly by compiling killings which were captured in the media. The police could not provide up-to-date figures of the killings, saying it would take time compiling them from across their stations. The survey also shows that the key targets of attack are business people whose cash or other valuables are robbed. Mr Rogers Kawuki, a supervisor at Kings Betting Investment Company in Bukoto, was waylaid by thugs in August and shot dead. His attackers made off with an unknown amount of money.

Let off the hook
According to the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Mr Ibin Ssenkumbi, convicting masterminds of these killings has proved difficult because “little evidence” is left at the crime scenes. “We have been taking suspects to court, but there is little evidence to have them convicted and thus most of them are released on bail while others are let to go,” Mr Ssenkumbi says.

The Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura, attributes the worrying trend to proliferation of illegal guns into the city, but also lax control on registered firearms. “The crimes are being committed using lawful guns, but worsened by the illegal guns in the country,” Gen Kayihura told the Daily Monitor when contacted on Tuesday.

At a press briefing last month, former Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander Andrew Felix Kaweesi said they had arrested at least 40 suspected armed robbers since June. “Police is trying to secure the city from armed robbers and other violent criminals who take advantage of the laxity in security to attack their victims,” Mr Kaweesi added.

The force began registering all guns owned by individuals and private security agencies last year, but the effort has bore no fruit since bullet shells, which are usually the only evidence left at crime scenes, are not marked.

Gen Kayihura admits that gun ownership and records need to be managed better if the killings are to be stemmed. “We need to strengthen the control of the records, armories among other departments in our agencies to help control the movement of legally registered guns,” he said.

List of individuals KILLED by use of guns since April

April;
April14, Meddie Tamale, the owner of City Junior School in Kalerwe, also an employee of MTN, was shot dead in Mukono by unknown armed thugs – nothing was stolen from him.
April 16, a security guard shot dead Ahmed Tamale, a mobile money dealer. Upon arrest, the guard confessed to having killed the businessman to get access to the money.

May:
May 11, A mobile money dealer was shot dead by unknown armed robbers at Nansana Zone 8 when he had just arrived at his home. The robbers stole an unknown amount of money from him. Several suspects were arrested.

June:
June 28, Michael Sekajja, a resident of Maganjo, was shot dead at his home by unknown assailants.

July:
July 18, Godfrey Sekajugo, a State house operative, was shot dead during crossfire with armed robbers who had attacked Ddamulira Bar in Mutundwe.
July 27, James Tamale, 22, a resident of Kitintale Zone I, was shot dead in the wee hours of the morning after attackers ambushed him at Mutungo. His motorcycle and money were taken.
July 30, Mathias Nteziryayo, the officer in-charge of criminal investigations at Bulenga Police Station, who was leading a team in an operation to arrest armed robbers, was mistakenly shot dead by a fellow police officer. Two police officers were arrested and arraigned in court. The gun that was used was recovered.

August:
August 2, Gaddi Sulukumana, a police officer attached to Seeta Police Station, was shot dead by unknown assailants while working along Ntinda Road Zone. Police are still carrying out investigations on the case.
August 8, Rogers Kawuki, a supervisor at Kings Betting Investment Company, was shot dead in Bukoto by unidentified armed robbers who took off with unknown amounts of money – no arrests have been made.
August 12, two timber dealers were shot dead in Mukono, after being suspected of dealing in stolen timber by game rangers.
August 14, Denis Tukundane, a motorcyclist, was shot dead at Kasirye Road in Rubaga Division at around 9:30pm. The assailants fled with his motorcycle. A police officer, Gad Turikumweneimana, was shot dead the same day on his way to work at KAV Gradens in Seeta. Three unidentified men snatched his gun, shot him thrice and killed him.
August 15, Michael Mukisa, 23, was shot dead at Mbuya Zone 7 by armed robbers at a supermarket.
August 18, unknown assailants shot a police officer attached to Mukono Police Station. He died on his way to hospital.
August 19, Daniel Karuhanga was killed after unknown armed thugs attacked his home, leaving five family members injured in Kawempe.
August 20 Swaib Kalibala, a businessman, was shot dead by unknown people in Mukono Town.
August 21, Amos Kamulegeya, a resident of Kawempe, was shot dead from his home by unknown armed thugs. Police are yet to establish whether anything was stolen.
August 28, police constable Charles Byarugaba, 26, was shot dead by suspected armed thugs in Mulago before they made off with his gun.
August 30, three special hire drivers in Kibuye were shot dead and their cars stolen, Lozio Kiggundu, a timber dealer in Mukono Nagojje, was shot dead by a game ranger when he was found loading a truck with timber. The game ranger was arrested. Two suspected armed thugs were also shot dead the same day in a shoot-out with police officers in Bukoto, Ntinda in a foiled robbery of Shs700m.

September:
September 4, Yona Tamale was shot by a police officer attached to Nabweru Police Station. The suspect and police officer-in charge were arrested.
September 7, Ivan Ssendagire, a mobile money dealer in Kinawataka, was shot dead by armed robbers. The robbers took an unknown amount of money. Two suspects were arrested.
September 13, Innocent Birimumaisho, a manager of Kolugi Supermarket, in Natete, was shot dead by unidentified men. Three suspects were arrested.
September 14, a security guard, Peter Lusonyi, was shot dead at a fuel station on Masaka highway in Mpigi by unknown armed thugs, taking off with his gun.
September 15, a suspected thief was shot dead and six others arrested when they were found stealing telecommunication cables from MTN warehouse in Ntinda. Two suspects are still on the run.
September 30, Harish shama a businessman and the general manager at Big boss Universal Limited in Bunga, Ggaba Road, shot dead by a security guard employed on the company premises after the accused forcefully asked for payment from the deceased. The suspect is still on the run. Police recovered the gun and eight rounds of ammunition abandoned at the scene.

Police: Private security guards operate illegally

Almost all private security guards lack certificates of operation as mandated by law, the Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura, has said.

Gen Kayihura said the Force is supposed to vet and issue certificates of clearance to all private security guards before they are employed. “I have never cleared any security guard yet all of you know that I or police officers to whom I have delegated power to are supposed to vet those security guards,” he said on Tuesday at a meeting with managers of private security firms in Kampala. “This would evidently reduce hiring of individuals with criminal records or those with ill intentions as well as untrained guards,” he added.

With a recent rise in gun-related crimes in Kampala, private security firms have been placed in the spotlight with accusations that some of their guards either misuse the guns or hire them out to criminals.

The police chief was also concerned about the wages paid to guards, saying they were miserable and yet they have to secure installations at times housing billions of shillings. “We have also got information that these guards are paid very little, yet they are the ones protecting a lot of money especially in banks, mobile money shops among others. Sometime back, we had agreed to have a minimum wage set for them,” Gen Kayihura said.

According to the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Mr Ibin Ssenkumbi, whereas the guards, most of whom are O-Level graduates, receive elementary training on gun usage, firms do not do enough on background checks. “These security guards are involved in selling of guns and bullets thus being accomplices in cases of murder and robbery,” Mr Ssenkumbi said.

Gen Kayihura’s meeting follows the killing of businessman Sharma Harish, the manager of Big Boss Universal Limited in Bunga, Kampala, allegedly by a guard last month. The guard, who is still on the run, is believed to have shot the trader to get money.

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