Joshua Nahamya,
Mbarara.
Rwizi region publicity, ASP Samson Kasasira has confirmed that the Rwizi region has so far registered 500 house break-ins for the last seven months.
Besides the house break-ins, the region has also registered 6,728 other cases that include 132 murders, 397 cattle thefts, and 550 cases of domestic violence.
According to Richard Mugisha, Deputy City clerk says Mbarara city is now characterized by high crime rates associated with Covid-9 and the struggling economy.
“You see during covid19 most people especially those depending on a daily meal were not working, then after lockdown lift, people are now struggling with high commodity prices a reason we are continuing to register high robberies in the city
He adds that as the municipality grew to a city its population also increased with all kinds of people including thieves terrorizing people at night.
“Check Bishop Stuart University in Kakoba, girls are reporting about being raped on the way as early as 6 PM, go to Baghdad people are sleeping when the head is up while others close their doors as early as possible, no more movements when t clocks at 5 pm because people fear for their lives so police need to intensify its operations to crackdown these criminal elements or else we shall record Kakoba division a den of thieves,” says Mugisha
Also, Mathias Rugasira cried foul double when thugs attacked his home and property worth 2mln stolen.
“First we had gone to the club on coming back we found the door open, flat screen, hoofer all missing. Second time I had gone to the field in Buhweju where I was caught up on coming back all the property I had replaced include the TV set, mattress, clothes and my documents like the driving permit, national ID, ATM card were all stolen” Rugasira explained
Monica Nambogo a business lady and Amos Tayebwa a journalist also narrated how their phones were grabbed by thieves while walking home on Kakoba road.
“As I was walking home, a boda-boda man who was bypassing me grabbed my bag and pulled me until I fell on the road that he took my bag which contained my phone and two hundred shillings that I had worked to clear the rent fees,” says Nambogo
“A gang of about 10 men attacked me at around 11; 00pm on Kakoba road when I was coming from the club going home. I tried to fight them but during the fight I sustained an arm string injury and they ran away with my phone” Tayebwa added
Using the Flying Squad Unit, Kasasira says police have today tracked and arrested two serial thugs suspected to be behind Motorcycle thefts in the Rwizi region which include districts of Kiruhura, Ibanda, Mbarara Kazo, Rwampara, Ntungamo, and Isingiro.
The suspects included; Ivan Twakire aged 29, a businessman from Nsambya Makindye Division in Kampala, and Darius Turyamuhoona aged 35, a driver on Ibanda road.
Kasasira says the mounted operation followed the reported murder of one Ronald Nareeba who was killed along the Mbarara-Bushenyi road.
The accused also robbed the deceased’s motorcycle Reg. no UEF491S bajaj boxer which hasn’t been recovered.
He said during the operation, two motorcycles were recovered with the arrested suspects under the same number plate UFK393P with also a similar Engine serial number which challenged the police officers on the scene.
“Actually we were shocked to find the two Motorcycles sharing the same number plate, similar engine serial number, and color but with different serial numbers 1885741-2 and 2004085-6 which we are going to verify with Uganda Revenue Authority,” says Kasasira
The duos are charged on two counts of murder and aggravated robbery as invest9gations continue.
Kasasira says “the arrested suspects are part of the bigger racket of motor vehicle thieves in the region adding that preliminary investigations indicate that the stolen vehicles are taken to the neighboring countries moving them across borders of Mutukula and elsewhere that police is still trucking”
Also in July, police in Mbarara was able to unearth a motor vehicle theft racket along Mbarara bypass through the intelligence network and CCTV cameras in the area. The suspects have been terrorizing both Rwizi and Kigezi regions.
Among the missing vehicles include; Toyota Forward Reg. No. UBF 835X stolen from Bushenyi, Toyota Forward Reg. No. UBF 995C stolen from Rukungiri, Fuso truck Reg. No. UAX 997W stolen from Mbarara, and Toyota Forward Reg. No. UAY122Q among others.
Kasasira says efforts by police to recover the missing vehicles are still ongoing.
He also appealed to members of the public to keep vigilant and take their security seriously to avoid being taken advantage of by thugs, especially at night.
