The operation followed complaints from residents, especially the business community in the areas of Kiganda, Kiryatete and Luska, all suburbs of Hoima city about rampant thefts and attacks by criminals in several parts of the city.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police Spokesperson, explained that this deficiency has contributed to a rise in attacks and killings targeting private security guards. Hakiza noted that these guards, unable to defend themselves, have increasingly fallen victim to thugs.
The suspects whose particulars have since been concealed for fear of jeopardizing investigations were arrested on Wednesday. They are all residents of Buliima village in Masindi district.
Tumwesige was reportedly attacked and stabbed to death in the wee hours of Tuesday while in Kiryatete East, a suburb of Hoima City. The thugs later dumped Tumwesige's body by the road.
The vehicle was reportedly intercepted in the early hours of Sunday morning at around 3 a.m. between Kakindo and Kihuna villages along the Hoima-Kakumiro road in Kakumiro District.
Kafa reportedly went missing last Thursday, prompting his family to alert the Masindi Police after repeated attempts to contact him failed. Despite an immediate search by the police and relatives, he remained unaccounted for until Sunday evening.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Otim emphasized that if Busiku claims to have worked with the police and applied for early retirement, he should provide documentary proof. "If he insists he was a police officer and applied for early retirement, let him present the documents to support his claims."
The group is accused of waylaying businessman Peter Bigirwa and his wife on Saturday evening in Karuguza Cell, Kibaale Town Council. The couple was reportedly attacked as they were returning home from Karuguza Town.
Tuhaise Byaruhanga, a resident of Mutunguru village, in Burora sub-county is alleged to have killed his brother Byaruhanga Tugume, on Sunday after picking a quarrel over a piece of family land.
According to information gathered by Uganda Radio Network (URN), the incident occurred on October 16, 2024, around 11 p.m. when three suspected thieves, identified as Derrick Angobi (27), Enzama, and one Okwera, raided the home of Christine Asiyasu in Kabango Town Council. The suspects allegedly stole various household items, including plates, clothes, mattresses, and jerry cans. Asiyasu raised an alarm, attracting the attention of the residents.
Ssempijja is wanted for attempting to strangle Jafari Ssesanga, the Assistant Masaka Resident City Commissioner in charge of the Nyendo-Mukungwe division, whom he accused of blocking a land deal.
According to Nakitanda, four masked thugs armed with pangas, sticks, and a hammer broke into her home in Kakookolo zone around 2:00 am on Sunday. They threatened to kill her unless she surrendered the money. Nakitanda added that the thugs cut her hand and aimed a heavy hammer at her head to force her to reveal where she kept the money collected on Saturday from her shop.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson explained that some of the police officers together with some suspects were heading to Kyarushesha in Kyangwali sub-county to reconstruct a murder scene.