A rash of robberies by gun-toting men dressed in the army and oftentimes police uniforms have been reported in recent months from different parts of the country.
Gen. Otafiire disturbed by robberies by 'men in uniform' at roadblocks
The minister for Internal Affairs Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire has said that illegal roadblocks mounted by men in uniform, who are actually robbers, are officially a problem to government.
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These robberies have been reported along the Kampala-Gulu highway, particularly at Migadde, Matugga and Kiryowa villages and the Kampala-Masaka Road in the areas of Kyengera, Maya and Nsangi.
These incidents have also been reported along the Kampala-Mityana-Mubende highway, where robbers mount roadblocks at Buloba and Myanzi.
Otafiire says the government is trying to establish whether these are isolated cases or a pattern arising out of organised crime.
“We heard about it. We do not know whether it is just ordinary crime or organised crime or something else. They are snap roadblocks. You can’t stop criminals from coming on the roads for 20 or 30 minutes,” Otafiire said, adding that the criminals are also targeting police officers without a clear motive.
Otafiire said he instructed the director of crime intelligence, Brig Gen Chris Damulira, and CID director, Tom Magambo, to investigate and get back to him with a detailed report on these incidents.
Buwama attacks
Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said the Buwama attackers were dressed up in disguise as men who were accompanying women carrying grass, but abruptly attacked counterterrorism officers deployed to guard the Equator.
As distinct to the same incident in Luweero where the machete-wielding attackers succeeded in taking two guns and killing one police officer, Enanga said the officers in Buwama fired bullets that forced the thugs to flee.
Enanga has identified officers who were attacked and injured in the Buwama incident as constables Lawrence Otim and Paul Nkolo. Both were from the counterterrorism unit guarding the Equator at Kayabwe, Buwama town council, Mpigi district.
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