Thugs kill 20 people in Kampala suburbs in one month

Kampala. More than 20 people have been killed in just one month in Kampala Metropolitan (KMP) that covers the capital city and the outlying Wakiso and Mukono districts, according to police crime statistics.
These killings were committed between August 15 to September 18.
The records show most of the victims were either shot dead, strangled or lynched.

Police mapped out the hotspots where most of the killings happened as Luzira in Nakawa, Rubaga and Central divisions of the capital Kampala. Others are Kasangati, Busabala, Kyaliwajala, Kamwokya, Kiteezi, all Kampala city.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, Mr Emilian Kayima, attributed the killings to guns in the hands of wrong people and “drug pushers” in the community.
“It is very bad to lose a life through murder. But we should know every society has bad people. We have people who have illegally obtained guns. Thugs have often attacked our officers and taken off with our guns,” Mr Kayima said yesterday.

Mr Kayima’s assertion of guns being in wrong hands coincides with last week’s incident in Kasangati in Wakiso District where gunmen shot two police guards at a Chinese plant in the area.
Cpl Peter Aulet was killed on the spot while his colleague Constable Gideon Akangel survived with bullet wounds.
The criminals took off with their guns. Godfrey Kato Ssalongo, a trader in Kasangati, was also killed by the criminals.
Mr Kayima said Kato had been receiving death threats from unknown people over a disputed piece of land in Wakiso District.
So far four people have been arrested in connection to the killing of the police officer.
One suspect believed to have been central in the planning of the murder was arrested yesterday following a week-long manhunt.

“These four suspects will lead us to their colleagues and the recovery of our guns that were robbed from our police officers,” he said.
In the city centre, Siasa Hamida, a Dillard security guard, was on Wednesday last week strangled by thugs who raided the premises she was guarding on William Street. One of the suspected criminals, Sula Kawuma, was injured during the shootout with police and later succumbed to his bullet wounds.
Police said investigations to identify Kawuma’s accomplices, who fled the scene, are still underway.
A mob in Lusaze, Rubaga Division, last weekend killed Clause Bright Kisembo on suspicion that he was a thief. In another incident, one Ronald and another unidentified man were killed by mobs in Kamwokya suburb on Monday this week and Friday last week.

On September 4, a mob in Kyanja, Wakiso District, cornered two suspected robbers moving on a motorcycle and killed one.
In Kitintale, Luzira in Nakawa Division, Baker Kagumaho, a boda-boda rider, was stabbed to death by unidentified thug who took off with his motorcycle.
A day after, the police in Bulaga Zone, Sumbwe Parish in Wakiso discovered a body of a woman suspected to have been strangled.
The police Flying Squad recently killed four armed robbers in Gangu village in Busabala, Wakiso District.
Mr Herbert Muhangi, the FSU commander, said police had launched a manhunt after one Scovia Bamuleete, a resident of Gangu reported a case at Kajjansi Police Station that she had been robbed at gunpoint. Other people were picked from various places and killed.

They had no identification documents.
Mr Kayima said the police would intensify community policing and re-launch the Neighbourhood Watch system. He said the Division Police Commanders (DPCs) had been instructed to work with local council chairpersons to have all residents registered.
“Fighting crime is a responsibility of every citizen. The police cannot be in every village or homestead. That’s why we are increasing our connections with the community,” Mr Kayima said.
Mr Kayima said several suspects have been arrested in connection to these murders. He said the police were still hunting more than 10 criminals.

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