KAMPALA, UGANDA – A highly organized criminal syndicate that carried out at least 14 armed robberies across more than 10 districts has been dismantled by police, leading to the arrest of 27 suspects and the recovery of two firearms. The gang is alleged to have stolen more than 600 million Ugandan shillings (about $160,000) between December 2024 and April.
The syndicate, which operated in eastern Uganda and parts of the Buganda region, was a sophisticated operation with its own medical team, mechanics, reconnaissance units, and operational squads. It had a system for distributing the proceeds from its crimes. According to police, the gang killed two people and injured at least six others during its attacks.
The Investigation
The gang’s crime spree prompted the Police Directorate of Crime Intelligence (CI) to deploy a joint security task force. A security source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to restrictions on discussing ongoing cases, said the suspects were arrested in various districts across the Busoga sub-region, including Iganga, Kamuli, Kaliro, Mayuge, and Buwenge. Others were apprehended in Busia, Buikwe, and Kayunga.
The investigation had a breakthrough with the arrest of a 29-year-old scrap dealer in Busia. He cooperated with police, providing information that led to the identification of 11 other suspects and the recovery of two firearms. The arrests also led to the seizure of several vehicles and vehicle license plates from both Uganda and Kenya, which are believed to have been used in the robberies.
Superintendent of Police Michael Kafayo, spokesperson for the Busoga North Police Region, declined to comment, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
Potential ADF Connection
The anonymous source revealed that some of the suspects are former members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel group who were granted amnesty. “We are working to determine whether they still have ties to the ADF or if they were operating independently,” the source said.
Due to legal concerns, the identities of the suspects will not be released. Two of the gang’s four firearms remain unaccounted for.
A Trail of Robberies
The gang’s first recorded incident occurred in December 2024 in Mbale City, where they ambushed David Ongom, a company clerk, as he was delivering 50 million shillings to a bank. Ongom was shot in the thigh but survived.
Two months later, the gang struck again in Jinja on Feb. 3, killing mobile money agent Emma Opusi and robbing him of 21 million shillings. The group’s tactics, which included using red pepper spray and targeting individuals transporting large sums of money, remained consistent.
The gang continued its rampage with a series of robberies:
- Feb. 23: Robbed businessman Kalpesh Shamji Rathod of 36.4 million shillings in Tororo.
- A week later: Stole 12 million shillings from a mobile money operator in Mayuge and 25 million shillings from a businessman in Kayunga.
- March 8: Robbed a cashier from Tembo Steel Rolling Mill in Iganga of 40 million shillings.
- March 25: Attacked businessman Alex Mugabe in Iganga, stealing 100 million shillings.
- March 29: Robbed a businessman in Buikwe.
- April 4: Robbed a businessman in Jinja.
- April 7: Robbed Atara Rajesh Prabhudasbhar of 50 million shillings in Tororo.
