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Acacia Mall shooting: Was it a foiled robbery or an execution?

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Police spokesperson ACP Kitumwa Rusoke  displaying the details of robbery suspects who were shot dead by security officers in Kamwokya, Kampala. PHOTO/BENSON TUMUSIIME

The nature and circumstances of killing of suspected robbers who police claimed were using a car and in possession of machetes in a busy neighbourhood has raised more queries than answers. 

Only three of the six suspects who were killed in suspected planned robbery of a Stanbic Bank client at Kamwokya in Kampala City on January 13 had a previous criminal record with the police. 

There were seven suspects. Of these, one, Muzamiru Kamoga was arrested. The rest were killed. They include Hamis Mohammad, alias Chemical; Sharif Lukwago, Micheal Ssebaka, Fahad Katongole, Adam Innocent Tuisabe, and Daddy Easy, alias Maniriho Zaake.

Mr Kituuma Rusoke, the police spokesperson, yesterday told this newspaper that the gang was led by notorious figures Abdul-rahman Bakata, alias Pancho and Farouk Tomusange, alias Otto. 

“The suspects were already on the criminal watch list, police intercepted the gang at various locations, recovering two motorcycles and weapons used in their attacks,” he said, adding that the suspects in the attempted Kamwokya bank heist were part of a larger gang known for targeting individuals carrying large sums of cash.

Yesterday, Mr Rusoke disclosed that the gang had graduated from unarmed assailants to armed robbers involving weapons such as machetes. He further said a person ends up with a criminal record with police when they have been apprehended by, fingerprinted and captured in the Force’s biometric machine.

“The other three victims did not have any criminal record with police, but it doesn’t mean that they were free from that crime incident,” he noted, adding that the gang’s members had been part of the series of robberies in Kampala city.

But government leaders and other officials are reading mischief into the incident.

While appearing before Parliament’s Defence and Internal Affairs Committee on January 16, Internal Affairs Minister Maj Gen (rtd) Kahinda Otafiire condemned the killing of the six suspects in cold blood and said he had written to the Inspector General of Police to explain what happened.

“I called the Inspector General of Police and I told him that under no circumstances should a Ugandan be killed or executed when he is in handcuffs or unarmed. I regret what you [Wilson Kajwengye, Defence Committee chairperson and MP Nyabushozi County] said -that Ugandans were gunned down on mere suspicion because it is contrary to my policy directives and I have called for the report, those responsible will be held to account,” Gen Otafiire said.

Mr Abbas Byakagaba, the police chief, said: “Allow me to respond to issues raised by honourable members with the most recent loss of lives of people and I begin by saying that loss of life of even a single individual is regrettable, and I would like to put it on record that police cannot be the entity to foster the loss of life. We clearly know our duties and responsibilities, that we are there to protect life and property and if life is to be lost, it should be within the confines of laws.”

“Allow me honourable chairperson and members- I know this is a very heavy issue and I may not exactly give you all details of what happened, but I want to assure you members through the chairperson that we take this issue seriously and as my minister has said, let us follow the procedures even as we fight for the rights of those who have died but also preserving the rights of those that have killed,” the IGP added.

Some of the suspected criminals who were shot dead in the incident at Acacia Mall in Kamwokya, Kampala. 

The development has also triggered uproar among other leaders.

The Leader Of Opposition in Parliament, Mr Joel Ssenyonyi, said: “Police took the law into their hands by killing suspects. If those suspects were armed and they started shooting at police, that would be different, we would say that police was responding to the shooting but that wasn't the case. If police says the suspects were on their watch list, why didn’t they arrest them and present them to court for prosecution?”

Mr Alex Bukumunhe, the public affairs manager of Uganda Human Rights Commission, said: “As a national human rights institution, we don't wish to see the police or anybody, take the law in their own hands to end one's life. However well-intentioned they might have been, this was an extra-judicial killing, and it is wrong.”

“There is a general presumption of innocence for everyone in the laws of Uganda and the Constitution is categorical under Article 22 that no one shall be deprived of life intentionally except in execution of a death sentence passed in a fair trial by a competent court in respect of a criminal offence and after the said sentence has been confirmed by the highest appellate court. We want to see everyone suspected of committing any offence taken through the due process and given a deserving sentence,” he added.

Dr Livingstone Ssewanyana, the founding executive director of the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, said: “There are arresting procedures that can be followed because killing a suspect on sight amounts to an extra-judicial killing and it is wrong. The State should take interest in investigating the matter.”

Last week’s shooting in Kamwokya was the first case in five years where the police was able to intercept the suspects in such a crime before carrying out a robbery. Last year, a gang of 10 on motorcycles attacked a tour and travel operator who was carrying money, beat him up, and then grabbed his bag that contained Shs2.2 million before fleeing the scene on a Kampala busy road. The incident happened at the Eso Corner on Kampala Road, which is a few metres from Parliament. 

Previous cases

The seven suspects in the Kamwokya robbery are linked to the following cases: On January 11, 2025, a coffee trader was attacked and robbed of Shs100 million shortly after withdrawing the money from Stanbic Bank's Bwaise branch, while travelling to Matugga.

The assailants used motorcycles. On January 4, 2025 a businessman was robbed of Shs30.7 million in Kampala Industrial Area by a group on motorcycles.

On December 16, 2024 a headmistress was assaulted in Kira Division.

Multiple robberies involving the same gang have been reported, including a June 15, 2024 incident where over 15 thugs stole Shs394 million and $17,450 from an accountant in Nakawa Division, Kampala City.