Kiira police arrest notorious panga-welding gang

by · The Observer

Kiira region police have arrested five suspects linked to a series of violent crimes, including their alleged leader, Latif Abudallah Mulondo, infamously known as "assassin."

The arrests were made in connection with aggravated robbery, with the group accused of intercepting a vehicle carrying Chinese nationals and fish maws worth Shs 175 million in October 2023.

The suspects include Mulondo's wife, Rosette Uwimana, 21, and Joseph Lubirire, 23, along with Lubirire's girlfriend, Kendy Mpumwire, 28, who had recently returned from Qatar.

Mpumwire allegedly financed the group's operations, facilitating their movement to multiple locations across Uganda, including Jinja, Kampala, and Mbale. The fourth suspect, Jacob Ogwal, was identified as the driver of a Toyota Mark X, which the group allegedly used for their crimes.

Their arrest occurred at a traffic checkpoint on Tororo Road in Mbale city following a joint operation involving the Kiira and Elgon Mbale region police, security cameras, and intelligence networks. According to Kiira Region police spokesperson James Mubi, the group was en route to Nakaloke in Mbale when they were apprehended.

The suspects are implicated in the kidnapping of two Chinese nationals and their driver during the October 2023 robbery. After the heist, they reportedly took the victims to a swamp in Budodo, before transferring the stolen fish maws to another vehicle in Busende, Jinja district, intending to sell the goods on the black market.

Mubi commended the collaborative efforts of regional police commander Charles Nsaaba and CID Wilson Agabba in reducing crime in the region. He highlighted that the arrests, part of ongoing police operations in Jinja, have led to the seizure of pangas, marijuana, and other stolen items, contributing to a safer environment for residents and businesses.

Related Stories