Police in Mukono District, working with vigilant boda-boda riders, have foiled a coordinated armed robbery operation that saw multiple villages in Mukono and Wakiso districts attacked in the early hours of July 27th, 2025.
According to the Uganda Police, the gang of machete-wielding assailants began their rampage at around 3:00 AM, targeting homes and pedestrians in Nabweru before extending their criminal trail through Kyaliwajjala and Sonde in Wakiso District. They later proceeded to Seeta Town in Mukono District, robbing residents of their belongings.
In a twist of events, as the gang attempted to retreat to Nabweru via the Kampala-Jinja highway, they staged another robbery at Namanve Industrial Park, attacking a victim near the bustling economic zone. Their trail of violence prompted a group of boda-boda riders to spring into action and pursue the attackers, eventually enlisting support from law enforcement officers at the Namanve Coca-Cola police post.
The collaborative effort paid off when the suspects were cornered behind KAWACOM Company, deep within the industrial park. During the confrontation, one of the robbers—later identified as Nsubuga—reportedly attempted to hack a police officer with a panga. Officers responded by shooting and disabling him, with injuries sustained to his waist and leg. Nsubuga was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment and remains under police guard.
Police also apprehended two additional suspects at the scene:
Asimwe Stephen, 26 years old
Musinga Musa, 22 years old
A thorough search led to the recovery of three pangas and a motorcycle bearing registration number UGG 597Y, all found in Asimwe Stephen’s possession. Furthermore, three smartphones suspected to be stolen were seized from the group.
Police spokespersons commended the swift cooperation between civilians and law enforcement, emphasizing the importance of community vigilance in disrupting criminal networks.
“These suspects are believed to be part of a wider gang responsible for a string of violent robberies,” a police source noted. “Their use of motorcycles to move between locations made it harder to track them, but thanks to the alertness of the boda-boda community and prompt police response, we were able to intercept them.”
Investigations are ongoing to determine the full scope of the gang’s operations and whether other suspects are still at large. Authorities are urging anyone with information related to the robberies to report to the nearest police station.
As Mukono and Wakiso continue to urbanize rapidly, security agencies say they are intensifying both night patrols and intelligence-led operations to curb the growing trend of organized urban crime.