The Flying Squad Unit has successfully arrested five suspected highway robbers involved in targeting goods in transit and trailing traders in the Busoga region. The operation, spanning two months, led to the capture of individuals responsible for attacking over 10 traders and hijacking several vehicles transporting goods.
The arrested suspects include a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier named Swaib Mutegura, who allegedly provided army camouflage used in the robberies. The other apprehended individuals are Hassan Mulangura (aka Gowa), Abbas Lukoma Lusuri, Martin Kumbuga, and Fatuma Hamis. The authorities are still pursuing Gowa Sadat, who is reportedly the husband of Fatuma Hamis.
The Flying Squad operatives revealed that the group utilized three vehicles – a white Mark X with registration 298T, a grey Mark X with registration UBJ 879T, and a white Mark II with registration UBB 716T – for conducting their robberies. The suspects admitted to wearing military uniforms during their operations, where they would trail and block trailers and trucks carrying goods. Their targets were often traders returning from selling merchandise or those en route to purchase goods for their businesses.
The suspects disclosed that their criminal activities primarily occurred in Mayuge, Kamuli, Bugiri, and Luuka, with targeted trucks coming from the Busia border or heading to Busia from Kampala. They employed tactics such as waylaying vehicles, mounting roadblocks, and, in some instances, kidnapping traders until they were sure that no one could rescue them. The robbers hijacked some trucks by coercing the drivers, while others were driven by the perpetrators themselves.
Fred Enanga, the Police Spokesperson, praised the coordinated efforts of the Flying Squad and police in the Busoga region, as directed by Inspector General of Police Martin Ochola, leading to the successful operation and apprehension of the suspects.
