It played out like a scene in an action-packed movie as security personnel gunned down six gang members who attempted to rob shs500 million from a client at Stanbic Bank Acacia Mall branch.
The Monday afternoon incident has left many hailing Police for this daring operation as it served a dose of medicine to members of a gang that has been linked to several other high profile robberies involving machete-wielding assailants attacking mostly businessmen.
In the end, the six gang members lay lifeless after being gunned down at Total Acacia Avenue, Kasasiro Stage along the Old Kira Road and near Tagore Apartments, along Kayunga Road.
Police said they acted on a tip off to carry out the intelligence led operation that saw the attempted robbery foiled.
The UG Bulletin has exclusively got the identities of some of the six gang members gunned down.
According to sources privy to the matter, the deceased included Lukwago Sharif who had previously in 2022 been arrested on a case of theft on SD reference 08/06/08/2022.
Others are Muhammad Khamis, a notorious criminals who was previously over theft at detained at Jinja Road Police Station on SD 04/13/02/2021in 2021, robbery vide Jinja Rd SD 95/24/08/2023 in 2023, another robbery in Kabowa SD 37/03/08/2023; aggravated robbery on Jinja Road CRB 360/2024 last year and robbery in Kabalagala CRB 1514/2023 in 2023.
Also among those gunned down was Fahad Katongole who had previously been arrested over assault in 2023 on a case file SD 07/24/07/2023 at Jinja Road Police Station.
The details show almost all those gunned down were repeat offenders who after arrest and arraigned in courts of law, they were either released on bail or served their sentences and returned to begin from where they had left their business.
The Internal Affairs Minister, Gen Kahinda Otafiire on Thursday expressed regret over the Police shooting to death the six suspected robbers.
“Under no circumstances should a Ugandan be executed. I regret that these six Ugandans were gunned down on mere suspicion. We must ensure arrests and detentions are backed by solid evidence. Don’t arrest anybody until you are satisfied with the facts,”Otafiire said.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abas Byakagaba also expressed sorrow over the incident, urging officers to prioritize lawful conduct.
“The loss of life is regrettable. Police can’t be the ones fostering loss of lives when our duty is to protect life and property. If life is to be lost, it must be within the law. Let us follow the procedures even as we fight for the rights of those who are killed.”
