A wave of mysterious murders took Uganda by surprise at the beginning of this year. It began in the town of Mukono, 20km east of Kampala. Apparently, iron bars were being used by criminal groups in to commit murder in what looked like a return of the 1980s where Jinja residents were terrorized by iron bar hit-men in what was infamously described as “moja kwishaâ€.
The killers would waylay their victims in the early hours of the morning or evening. They would operate in full view of the public with motorcycles as their means of transport. In the majority of cases recorded by police, the victims were not robbed.
The victims were attacked while either entering or leaving their homes, places of entertainment like bars and restaurants and even designated bus stops. The criminals, who would be on a motorbike, would hit their victims on the head and swiftly get away. The attacks were public thus making them very scary. Ordinarily the witnesses would be too scared to confront the gang.
In the month of March, four people were left for dead in one night in four different incidences in Mukono. Simon Nvule, an employee of Christian University Mukono; Roger Ojaka, a student at the same university and two businessmen; Ronald Ssekitoleko and Oliver Nakamya were brutally beaten by these thugs. Thankfully, they did not die.
By July, similar attacks were reported in the areas of Namugongo, Mityana, Kitintale, Mutungo, Ntinda, Kisaasi, Katwe and around Nansana - all Kampala suburbs. Between July and November this year, police recorded 314 cases of murder, and 109 attempted murder. In August, major security operations were conducted which saw the arrest of 221 suspects, an assortment of crude weapons and eight firearms. A recently promoted police officer was arrested by the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) in the company of five well know killers. The gang was about to conduct an armed robbery. In their possession was, among other weapons, several pieces of blood-coated iron bars rods.
By September, calm was restored to Kampala only for similar cases to resurface in early November. This prompted a series of meeting between security organization chiefs, one of which was on shot notice chaired by President Museveni himself. This was followed by mass deployment of security operatives, police officers and military police all over the county and especially in Kampala.
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written by Bucko, December 27, 2008
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written by Keren, April 23, 2009
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written by Blue elephant, May 08, 2009
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