Robberies Surge on Kampala-Masaka Highway Amid Police Crackdown

Robberies have resurfaced along the Kampala-Masaka highway, particularly in the Busega-Kyengera swamp corridor. Gangs on motorcycles trail vehicles stuck in traffic, smashing windows to rob occupants of cash and valuables in broad daylight. Others attack pedestrians, snatching bags and phones from 6pm into the night.

Local boda boda leader Nelson Ssekito reports that thugs operate daily from bases near Busega roundabout and Kabale Busega market. They shift spots across Bwaise, Namungoona, Masanafu, Busega, and Kyengera to evade detection, using bikes as getaway vehicles or fleeing into swamps on foot.

Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Racheal Kawala announced operations along the Northern Bypass from Kyengera to Namboole. On Saturday night, officers arrested John Muwesi (33), Saka Mbazanyi (25), Stephen Kabuka (23), and a 17-year-old from Busega, recovering 20 iPhones and two Tecno phones from a swamp hideout.

The arrests stemmed from a Kyengera Police Station report by a businesswoman whose laptop bag, containing Shs5.34 million, two smartphones, and ID, was stolen. Police are tracing device owners and hunting more suspects.

Taxi gangs lure passengers to front seats, then pickpocket them during fake stops. Street vendors selling mulondo tubers and nuts scout targets by peering into cars and signaling thieves, according to public transport businessman Richard George Olalu.

Black spots at Busega roundabout, Masanafu, and Namungoona feature trenches linked to swamps for escapes. Poor lighting, drainage issues, and idle youth fuel the crimes. Uganda’s 2024 police report noted 7,330 mobile thefts, down slightly from 2023 but still rampant in urban areas.

Police urge vigilance, avoiding unofficial taxi stages, as criminals adapt with better planning and tech.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)