The joint police and military crackdown on criminal gangs along Northern bypass, has led to the recovery of a pistol that was stolen from a UPDF officer last week.
Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga, says that the army and police embarked on the crackdown following a public outcry against thugs attacking motorists and pedestrians.
According to Enanga, it is during the joint operation that they were able to arrest Julius Tugume, who is believed to have snatched a mobile phone and Shillings 2.4 million from the vehicle belonging to an unnamed UPDF major on January 15th, 2022.
He revealed that Tugume led the police to his colleague Herbert Oloney alias heavy, who had hidden the pistol after sharing the money.
Police recovered the pistol with 8 bullets and one smartphone Oloney’s room in Naguru go-down, a Kampala suburb over the weekend.
According to police, at least 115 suspects had been picked up from the areas of Kisasi, Narya-Butukilwa zone, Kyebando in Kawempe, Kyamuka zone of Kamwokya, and Kawala by last weekend in the ongoing crackdown on criminal actors on the northern bypass.
“Fifteen (15) suspects were found with narcotic substances and tools used in attacking their unsuspecting victims in areas of Kyamuka- Kamwokya, and Kyebando,” he said.
Enanga explained that the operations have brought some sanity to the northern bypass.
Police have since warned the public against late-night movement following the reopening of the night economy.
“Although we shall maintain deployments on major roads in Kampala, you should not risk moving late at night, because security cannot be everywhere, you should be security conscious as you return home late at night,” Enanga said.
The night economy reopened on Monday night after more than two years of closure due to the COVID-19 containment measures. Whereas the curfew has been lifted for other sectors of the economy, the same still stands for Boda boda riders