Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | At least 57 people have been arrested in joint security operations carried out in search of criminals waylaying locals and carrying out robberies in Mutungo, a suburb of Kampala.

Dozens of complaints had been lodged by locals at Mutungo and Lubowa police stations about criminals mugging them on the way mostly in the early morning and late evening hours.

Those arrested include Shakuru Oguti, Wasswa Nsubuga and Lawrence Muyingo, who had early been listed as part of a known gang. Before the arrest, Police deployed covert personnel who worked with local council leaders to spot the gang’s hideouts in Mutungo, Kakoola, Kigo, Lunya, Birongo, Kanaaba and Kitiko.

But one of the suspects, a 20-year-old Shakuru Oguti, who was found with a suspected stolen motorcycle UFY 383Z Bajaj boxer said that although he didn’t have any proof of ownership, the motorcycle was not stolen.

The other suspect, Wasswa Nsubuga who has been arrested severally in theft, burglary and robbery pleaded for forgiveness.  Police had three complaints in which Nsubuga’s name had been mentioned.

Patrick Onyango, the Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson said the operations were necessitated by the need to cleanse the area of criminal elements who had found a haven in the areas. Onyango said that many of the arrested persons are repeat offenders.

So far charges of common nuisance and having suspected stolen items have been preferred against them. However, police are scrutinizing the complaints and if it find that some of the victims were robbed using lethal or rudimentary weapons, the cases could be changed to simple robbery, robbery and aggravated robbery.

At least more than 80 suspected criminals were arrested in last week’s joint security operations in areas of Kisugu, Wabigalo, Namuwongo, Nabweru, Nansana, Lubigi, Katwe, Kajjansi, Kibuye, Kabowa and Ndeeba. Some of the suspects were found with knives, machetes, iron bars and hammers.

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