Joint security force foils armed robbery - Daily Monitor

Joint security force foils armed robbery

Saturday December 8 2018

Kampala Metropolitan spokesperson Luke

Kampala Metropolitan spokesperson Luke Owoyesigire. FILE PHOTO 


KAMPALA. Security forces on Friday night foiled an armed robbery in Kyengera town council, Wakiso District.

Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, said suspected thugs moving in a car were intercepted by security agencies that had trailed them at More Save Supermarket at around 10pm.

Mr Owoyesigyire dismissed earlier reports that criminals had robbed a fuel petrol station and killed several people in the robbery.

“Yesterday at around 10pm at More Save Supermarket in Kyengera we had an operation where a group of suspects was being pursued. In order to arrest them, the car they were traveling in was deflated by gun shots,” Mr Owoyesigyire said.

Mr Owoyesigyire did not reveal weapons that were recovered from the suspects but insisted that none of the suspects had been injured or killed in the operation which had reportedly caused fear among residents.

“They were all arrested in good condition and (are) currently in custody. There was no death by gun shot as it has been falsely reported,” he added.

Police said there was an ongoing hunt for criminals using both fire arms and rudimentary weapons such as machetes, clubs, iron bars, knives and gun toys.

The army and police have of recent conducted several operations in Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono districts in which several people have been arrested, charged in court while others have not yet been presented in courts of law.

Last week, police arrested 333 suspected criminals in Kisenyi -- a city suburb. Mr Owoyesigyire said police conducted the operations purposely to reduce criminals who victimize people during the festive season. Police claimed the suspects were found with blood stained weapons such as knives, machetes and iron bars.

There has been a public outcry on the army conducting random arrests on highways, bars and villages in Kampala and Wakiso where items such as money, wallets, phones and watches are not spared during arrests. Some people have posted on social media claiming army men have arrested them from the gates of their homes, detained them and only gained freedom after they accepted to lose all the money they had in wallets.

Asked about the allegations, police spokesperson, Emilian Kayima, said police had not received any official complaint from individuals mistreated by security agencies.