Operatives from the Police Flying Squad and Crime Intelligence in Kampala have bust a gang of criminals using taxis to target female passengers along Kampala-Entebbe Expressway to rob and then kill them.
The gang would target women going to work very early in the morning, or those returning late from work.
“Disguised as taxi operators, the suspects would lure the female victims to their taxi, where they would strangle and suffocate them using polythene bags. They would proceed to rob their bags, smart phones and other valuables and then dump the bodies of the victims, within Kajjansi Town Council,” Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga said .
The gang members who have since been arrested confessed to have targeted specifically female passengers and they would wait when all other passengers have left the taxi to pounce on them.
The incidents
Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga said the first incident of abduction and murder occurred on March, 31, 2024 where Judith Awori , 25, a waitress at Royal Ark Restaurant in Lweza Cell, Ndejje in Kajjansi Town Council, was found murdered and her body dumped near St. Luke Church in Lweza.
On April, 23, 2024, another body of an unknown female adult, was found in a sack of Kawotto cell in Kajjansi Town Council.
It was dumped by a male suspect, who was captured on camera, fleeing from the scene, after setting fire on the body of the death victim.
On April, 29, 2024 , another report was made at Kajjansi Police Station, after another female adult, identified as Jeniffer Nassali was murdered by unknown persons and her body dumped at Bweya cell in Kajjansi town council.
The deceased had signs of strangulation, around the neck area, face was blindfolded in a polythene bag.
On May, 9, 2024, a body of a female adult victim, that was unknown was found dumped along Jjanja – Lutembe beach road, at around 9am, by an unidentified motor vehicle.
On May, 15, a report of disappearance of Sandra Nangobi was made at Kajjansi Police Division, by her mother Sulaina Tendo after the victim left home at Kitende, “B” cell, Kajjansi town council at 5am, but did not reach her work place in Makindye.
The victim’s phone was switched off and her whereabouts were unknown.
Enanga said the Flying Squad and Crime Intelligence teams tracked and arrested Abbas Katongole and Ronlad Matovu, both conductors as well as Herbert Turyashemererwa.
They would later arrest Isaac Nuwagaba, 32, a taxi driver from Rwakimuli cell, Bukinda sub-county, in Rukiga district .
“ Upon arrest, a search was conducted and tangible exhibits recovered, including Techno Spark black phones, one with a line of Nassali Jenipher, who was murdered, a Samsung phone with two sim cards, a red hand bag, yellow jumper, six mobile cover and cash shs500,000 among other exhibits,” Enanga said.
He said in addition, two taxis operating along Kampala – Entebbe allegedly used in the commission of the atrocities, under registration number UAU 737T and UAV 473Y, were impounded and parked at Kajjansi CPS.
Police said there is substantial evidence linking the gang’s involvement in the disappearance and death of the victims while their mode of operation in the deaths of the five women is similar.
“We have obtained DNA samples for comparison, with the samples picked from the bodies of the victims and from the two taxis.”
“We caution all members of the public who leave their homes very early and those who return late from work, to be very careful, while boarding taxis, that are not from the gazetted stage points, and those whose occupants are all male Moving in groups is also advised, because serial killers prey on lone and vulnerable victims,” Enanga urged.
