(Kampala) – Police in Kampala have detained two men suspected of attempting to rob a supermarket in Kabalagala. The suspects were identified as Lukwago Edwin and Asimwe Ezekiel and are now in custody, with further investigations underway.
During the weekly security briefing at Police Headquarters in Naguru on Monday, November 4, 2024, Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire shared details of the incident. He stated that officers recovered a pistol, which they believe was used in the attempted robbery, along with eight rounds of ammunition. The gun is now with police ballistics experts for analysis.
The incident occurred on November 2, 2024, around 9:30 p.m. in Namuwongo A, Bukasa Parish in Makindye Division. According to police reports, a boda boda rider who was parked near Mama Mia Supermarket on Bukasa Road heard shouting from the supermarket. He saw two men leaving the building and decided to follow them. Other boda boda riders joined him in chasing down the suspects.
One of the suspects managed to escape, but the other continued running down Eighth Street near the Namuwongo taxi stage, where he was ultimately captured by the riders. During the arrest, the suspect dropped an object into a nearby trench. Upon inspection with a flashlight, one of the security guards at the scene identified the object as a pistol. Shortly afterward, police from Kabalagala station arrived and took both the suspect and the weapon into custody.
The police spokesperson noted that investigations are ongoing to determine whether the suspects may have been involved in other criminal activities. Forensic experts are examining the recovered weapon to see if it matches evidence from past crime scenes.
The incident comes amid a broader rise in robbery cases across Uganda. According to the 2023 Police Annual Crimes Report, robbery cases increased by 13.3% last year, with a total of 7,772 cases reported, up from 6,854 in 2022. These cases include both “simple” robberies, which do not involve weapons, and “aggravated” robberies, where lethal weapons like firearms, knives, hammers, and machetes are used. The report recorded 4,745 simple robbery cases and 3,027 aggravated robbery cases.
