Two suspected thugs behind a merciless robbery at a supermarket in Mukono District have been netted by joint security forces.
The suspects have been identified as Mugalu William, 24-, a resident of Nasuuti cell, Ntawo ward, Mukono Central and Mbogo Sam, 23, a resident of Nasuuti cell, Ntawo ward, Mukono municipality. They are currently detained at Flying Squad headquarters in Kampala as investigations continue
The two suspects and others still at large raided Spice Supermarket at Ku Ssatu, in Namubiru ward, Mukono Central Division in Mukono Municipality on Friday at 11:34 pm with an AK 47 riffle they used to terrorize customers and staff by firing live bullets.
The thugs shot at the cashier before robbing an unspecified amount of money from the cash desk while their victims lay on the ground in begging ‘God’ for another chance to live.
Fred Enanga, the Uganda Police Spokesperson says the suspects were busted being identified by victims at the supermarket. He says the AK 47 riffle involved in the attack is still missing, and a hunt is on for other members of the criminal gang involved in the same crime.
Enanga further says that the thugs are professional in their criminal activities, judging by how swift they were in their actions.
“An amateur group is usually desperate, more high risk and willing to use violence. The facts gathered indicate that the two suspects were sighted on the eve of the robbery while drinking at Cloud 9 bar,” he says
Enanga says a team of counselors from CID Headquarters has been dispatched to offer counseling services to the cashier, after a gun was pointed to her head.
“ We thank her for doing the right thing by doing exactly what the thugs asked her to do, when they forced her to open the till and put all the cash in their bag.
The same group is believed to be connected to other suspects who have been terrorizing residents in Nagalama and Mukono. Enanga has warned that there is a rise in retail crimes on supermarkets, mobile money points, retail shops, markets among others.
Enanga says this wave of crime is becoming dominant because of high levels of unemployment among the youth, use of drugs, change in criminal tactics where robbers attack softer targets with lesser security.
Enanga further says the thugs have adapted to using guns, knives, machetes, screw drives and other sharp objects.
“Unless the several problems are backed, retail businesses continue to be under threat, which calls for the need to boost security measures such as deployment of sufficient private security guards, CCTV, body cameras, activating alarms and connecting them to police stations.” He says
On Monday last week, thugs dressed in Military wear erected road blocks in a swamp between Kyengera and Nabbingo in Wakiso district ,robbing several unsuspecting motorists.
