Police in Kakumiro are holding three suspected robbers who have been terrorizing residents in the area.
The suspects have been identified as Abdallah Byamukama, Mafene Niwamanya, and William Magezi, all residents of Igayaza town council in Kakumiro district.
The suspects were arrested on Friday night during an intelligence-led operation conducted by the Police, Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF), and Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence targeting criminals in the area. The operation was sanctioned following numerous attacks on area residents. They were arrested within Igayaza town council.
The Albertine Region Police Spokesperson, Julius Hakiza, says the suspects would raid homes and hold residents at gunpoint before robbing them of money and other items. He says that the same suspects would sometimes waylay people heading to various destinations at night, robbing them of their valuables.
According to Hakiza, the most recent attack happened on June 8, 2024, when the robbers raided the home of Jerry Murungo of Igayaza town council and robbed him of 25,000 shillings. The thugs, while armed with machetes, attacked and robbed their victim at around 1 a.m. and later vanished to an unknown destination.
Hakiza says that once investigations are complete, the suspected robbers will be arraigned before the court to be charged with aggravated robbery.
In February this year, five suspected robbers were arrested in Kakumiro. The suspects were arrested during an intelligence-led operation conducted by security targeting criminals who were terrorizing residents in the districts of Kakumiro, Kibaale, Kagadi, Kyankwanzi, and Mubende.
The suspects, according to police, would raid homes and hold residents at gunpoint before robbing them of money and other items. They would sometimes waylay vehicles heading to various destinations in the region, robbing the cars and the occupants of their valuables.
