Kampala, Uganda | Police Crime Intelligence, in collaboration with the Flying Squad and Kawempe Police, have apprehended seven suspected members of a robbery gang terrorizing the Kampala Metropolitan area.
An officer from Kawempe Police Division reported that the gang had been operating with four motorcycles—UGG 950L, UDN 457C, UEW 888A, and UGC 825D—carrying out robberies primarily at betting centers and slot machine shops.
“The gang, consisting of eight members, operated with four riders and four armed passengers using pangas and toy guns. Following multiple robbery complaints, we executed a strategy to apprehend them,” the officer stated.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Patrick Onyango identified the leader of the gang as 27-year-old Joseph Nsabamungu, who was also posing as a security operative. The other suspects include 28-year-old Stephen Kayita, 22-year-old Shafik Baligeya, 30-year-old Nicole Musimami, 21-year-old Adrian Kakato, 27-year-old Asuman Riyinza, and 37-year-old Lawrence Kibuuka, an army deserter with the service number R222701.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the gang had successfully carried out three night robberies in Bulenga, Namasuba, and Mukono, stealing a total of 5.7 million shillings over three consecutive nights.
During interrogations at Kawempe Police, it was revealed that Kibuuka, the army deserter, received the largest share of the loot, earning between 150,000 and 200,000 shillings per operation. Meanwhile, Nsabamungu retained all stolen military items, including uniforms and toy guns.
Onyango noted that the operation is ongoing to locate remaining accomplices and ensure community safety within the Kampala Metropolitan area.
This incident is part of a broader concern, as several UPDF deserters and impostors have previously been arrested while in possession of military gear and weapons. In 2021, Arthur Nuwagaba, a Warrant Officer II from the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), was arrested for allegedly supplying military equipment to impostors and deserters.
