Police in Kagadi district have arrested seven individuals, including a UPDF deserter identified as Private Kato Ivan, in a crackdown on a criminal gang responsible for a spate of armed robberies that had instilled fear among residents in Kagadi and its neighbouring areas.
According to Police spokesperson Fred Enanga, the operation was executed in response to a concerning surge in cases of violence and aggravated robbery in Kagadi district.
The other individuals in police custody have been identified as Aliganyira Richard, Fina Patrick, Luweza Chris, Kyaligonza Yasin, Agaba Januarious (the manager of Service Point Bar), and Katushabe Natasha, a barmaid at Service Point Bar.
The police allege that this group, spearheaded by Private Kato, had been using Service Point Bar as their primary meeting place to strategize and coordinate their illicit activities. The gang primarily targeted Kagadi district, utilizing the bar both as a hideout and a storage facility for the stolen goods.
During the operation, the police recovered various pieces of evidence, including a firearm and military attire.
“The exhibits of a gun and ammunitions were submitted to ballistic experts, to establish whether there are other ballistic hits linked to, the gun. Investigations are also being expanded to establish whether other members, of the public, were victimised by the criminal gang,” said Enanga.