Police in Wandegeya acted quickly on Thursday morning to stop a serious robbery attempt in Kikoni A Zone, Makerere 1 Parish, in the Kawempe Division. The incident happened on April 17, around 8:30 a.m. Police received information about armed men riding motorcycles near the Chez traffic lights, and they moved in fast to stop them.
According to police, they were tipped off that a group of young men carrying pangas (large knives) were planning to rob people. These robbers were riding motorcycles and were moving around the busy Kikoni area. The group was reportedly targeting street vendors and people riding new motorcycles.
Thanks to the quick action by the police, they managed to catch some of the suspects before they could hurt anyone. The operation ended in a serious confrontation between the police and the suspects.
Two suspects were arrested during the operation. One is Ssemwanga Sharon, an 18-year-old student from YMCA who lives in Salama, Makindye Division. The other is Nyenya Richard, a 17-year-old peasant from Mutungo Bina in Nakawa Division. Both are now in police custody and are likely to be charged with robbery.
Sadly, during the operation, one suspect was killed. He was identified as Lumala Muran, also known as Asumani. His body was taken to the KCCA mortuary in Mulago. Police say two other suspects escaped and are still being looked for. This means a total of five people were involved in the planned robbery.
The police recovered a motorcycle with the number plate UMA 513AL, which the suspects had used to move around. They also found a blood-stained panga that was used to scare and possibly harm victims.
Investigations so far show that the group mainly targeted people selling alcoholic drinks and riders of new motorcycles. These victims may have been seen as easy targets who carried cash or valuable items.
One of the most worrying parts of this case is the age of the suspects. The two arrested are just teenagers—17 and 18 years old. This has raised concerns about the number of young people getting involved in serious crime.
A police spokesperson said, “This incident shows that we must deal with the reasons young people turn to crime, such as joblessness, lack of training, and not having role models to guide them.”
The police say they will now increase patrols in Kikoni and nearby areas. They are also planning to work closely with local leaders to create programs that will help the youth. These programs will include skills training, job opportunities, and counseling so that young people do not fall into crime.
“We need to act fast when we get information, but we also need to build trust and work with the community,” the police added.
The search for the other two suspects is still ongoing, and the police are asking for help from the public. If anyone sees something suspicious, they are encouraged to report it immediately.
This event reminds everyone that staying alert and working together with the police can help stop crime. It also shows the importance of guiding and supporting young people, so they choose better paths in life.
