Clinical officer among nine arrested over aggravated robbery in Kamuli
Recovered stolen motorcycle number plates and guns at the police station in Kamuli District. PHOTO/MOSES MUTAKA
What you need to know:
- Police have pledged to continue operations targeting criminal networks in the region.
Police in Kamuli District, eastern Uganda have arrested nine suspects, including a clinical officer, in connection with a series of aggravated robberies in the Busoga sub-region.
The suspects were apprehended in an intelligence-led operation on March 22, authorities said on Sunday.
Busoga North Police spokesperson Michael Kasadha confirmed that security forces also recovered two firearms suspected to have been in the suspects' possession.
“Police mounted an operation in which nine suspected armed robbers were arrested. We recovered items including two guns with two magazines and ammunition, two motor vehicles—a Land Cruiser (UAZ 656B) and a Toyota Hiace taxi (UDR 580P)—motor vehicle number plates, two television sets, and four new mattresses,” Kasadha said.
The arrests followed a tip-off that one of the suspects, Fred Wambi, had transported suspicious items—believed to be firearms—from Namwendwa to Bukolobe Cell in Kamuli Municipality on March 20.
“We received a tip that one of the suspects had transported suspicious items to his brother’s residence in Bugweri District,” Kasadha said.
“Our operation, which began in Kamuli and led us to Bugweri, where Wambi was hiding with his brother, yielded positive results because we arrested even his accomplices,” he added.
Kasadha noted that the suspects are believed to be part of a criminal gang responsible for a recent wave of violent robberies in the region.
“I commend the public for working with the police, which led to this breakthrough. Investigations are ongoing to apprehend more suspects,” he said.
Local leaders weighed in on the arrests, with Ibulanku Sub-county Chairman Ibrahim Ndoga downplaying concerns of widespread violent crime in the area.
“Although the suspects were arrested in Namalemba, Ibulanku has only experienced petty theft,” he said.
The arrests come in the wake of a series of violent incidents, including the fatal shootings of a businessman from Kamuli District in neighbouring Jinja City, a mobile money operator in Kaliro, and a money float agent in Bugembe, Jinja.
The suspects were identified as:
- Fred Wambi, resident of Bukolobe Zone, Kasaigo Ward, Northern Division, Kamuli Municipality
- Grace Mugaya (alias Jordan Lwambaaga), a clinical officer, resident of Butongole Village, Namalemba Parish, Bugweri District
- Suzan Kwagala, resident of Butongole Village, Namalemba Parish, Bugweri District
- Godfrey Mukasa, resident of Butongole Village, Namalemba Parish, Bugweri District
- Henry Wamubiligwe, resident of Bulumba Village, Bikumba B Parish, Northern Division, Iganga Municipality, Iganga District
- Stephen Basalirwa, resident of Kawete, Namugalwe Sub-county, Iganga District
- Godfrey Ayazika, resident of Butongole Village, Namalemba Parish, Bugweri District
- Aziz Namugona, resident of Butongole Village, Namalemba Parish, Bugweri District
- Sosi Peter Boyi, resident of Butongole Village, Namalemba Parish, Bugweri District
Police have pledged to continue operations targeting criminal networks in the region.
