Police warn of increase in crime rate ahead of festive season

The Police and Sister Security Agencies, are urging the public to be more vigilant, following targeted attacks on mobile money dealers, traders, village saving groups and SACCOs, motorvehicles and cattle among others ahead of the festive season.

According to SCP Enanga Fred, the Police Spokesperson, the pre-festive season, is a time of stocking festive items by several business persons, but it also provides opportunities for criminals. “We would like to ask the public to be vigilant for suspicious people and vehicles and to report any concerns to police immediately,” said Enanga.

In addition to having security measures around them, to help safeguard their properties, like ensuring cashless transactions, altering banking routines/patterns, Enanga says that use of armed escorts and guards while transporting or collecting cash, keeping cash out of sight etc are all great ways of keeping one’s money safe.

He narrated that the police in Bukedi South and Busia arrested 5 suspected robbers, who were targeting a money dealer in Busia Municipality. The police received a tip through the crime intelligence unit about the robbery mission on 1/11/2023, where the victim would be attacked from his front-gate, as he left his home, at Kisenyi “A” village, Busia Municipality, near Busia Senior Secondary School, on the 4/11/2023.

At around 6am, Enanga says that the money dealer called Osege Rajab and his son, left their home, on sports bikes, and were attacked after a short distance, by the 5 suspected robbers. During the scuffle, the task team which was lying in wait, rounded up the suspects and arrested them.
The 5 suspects include; Musana Omar, Manana Derrick, Igobe Peter, Kadaya Umar and Makhoha Gilbert. The victim Osege, sustained minor injuries to the head.

In a separate incident, on 5/11/2023, a group of 3 robbers armed with 2 guns, attacked two different homes keeping village savings at Wandago parish, Magamaga Town Council in Mayuge district, where they robbed Ugx 5m, from Wamunga Daniel, a 46 year old, LCI Chairman of Church Zone at around 7:30pm.

The defence secretary, Mugaju Steven, who was responding to the alarm, was cut to the head, with a knife. The armed robbers also attacked Iwate Shifah, at around 8pm and robbed Ugx 1.8m from him and escaped.
Meanwhile in Rwizi region at Isingiro police station, Barigye John, a 32 year old, resident of Kaberebere II cell, South Ward, is in custody for the shop breaking and murder of Namata Ruth, a 32 year old mobile money dearer/Bank Agent (of DFCU, Stanbic and Centenary Banks) which occurred on 5/11/2023 at round 10:10pm.

The suspect was captured on the private CCTV camera, breaking into the shop, searching and packing money into a bag, after committing the act of murder at around 11pm. He exited through the hind door and escaped from the scene.

The police team and K9, responded and recovered exhibits including the killer weapon. The suspect was traced after viewing the CCTV footage and arrested. A search at his home led to the recovery of the clothes that he was putting on, during the act and lined them up, to dry inside his house.

On that same fateful day of 11/11/2023, at around 2am, a group of 3 men, disguised as customers, dressed in jackets and face masks, one of them armed with an AK 47 gun and a second one a pistol robbed a mobile money shop in Kyengera.
The robbers held the cashiers on gun point, before robbing cash Ugx 3.6m plus 2 smartphones.

They escaped immediately from the scene. The business premise had no CCTV cameras, and operated until late in the night, reason why it was targeted. The local askari was not armed at their location at Kabojja cell, Kyengera town council.

In Isingiro district, two notorious cattle thieves, Higiro Fred and Byaruhanga Didas, were arrested on 11/11/2023, at around 6am, while transporting 9 stolen sheep in motor vehicle registration number UAL 815F, at Katafali cell, Kyabishawo ward in Isingiro district.

In West Nile region, the police at Arua CPS, have put up a serious manhunt for two private security guards, attached to GKO security limited, who in the night of 12/11/2023, broke into Micro Finance Support offices, Arua branch, located in junior quarters, Awindiri ward in Arua city that they were guarding, damaged the safe and stole an un specified amount of cash, a DELL Laptop and escaped, after abandoning their two riffles, at the scene. The two suspects include; Okullu Kenneth and Omara Andrew.

Enanga says that preventing acquisitive crimes such as robbery, theft, burglary, shop breaking remains a priority for the Joint security agencies.

“We are meanwhile strengthening our network of vigilance, ahead of an increase in business activity, by identifying and carrying out raids on criminal hubs and increasing visibility. Our CLOs are already working with the community and encouraging them to be our eyes and ears, and to report suspicious activity. Do not assume, that someone else will report it for you. However, insignificant you think something may be, report it, because your actions could potentially save lives. To report any suspicious activity, please call the National Operations Command Centre on 0800199699, 0707600773 or 0776999136,” said the police spokesperson.