The Crime Intelligence Unit in Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP), in coordination with the Police Flying Squad Unit, has arrested four suspects who form part of a taxi criminal gang targeting women going to work early in the morning or returning late from work.
The police preliminary report indicates that the gang had been disguising themselves as taxi operators to lure female victims into their taxi, where they would strangle and suffocate them using polythene bags.
The gang would then proceed to rob their bags, smartphones, and other valuables, and then dump the bodies of the victims within Kajjansi Town Council.
The security operatives tracked down the first three suspects, who included Katongole Abbas, Matovu Ronald (both conductors), and Turyashemererwa Herbert.
The fourth and key suspect, Nuwagaba Isaac, aged 32, and driver of the taxi, was arrested in Rwakimuli cell, Bukinda sub-county, in Rukiga district.
“Upon arrest, a search was conducted and tangible exhibits were recovered, including Tecno Spark black phones, one with a line of Nassali Jenipher, who was murdered, a Samsung phone with two SIM cards, a red handbag, a yellow jumper, six mobile covers, cash of Shs500,000, among other exhibits,” said the police.
In addition, two taxis operating along Kampala–Entebbe, allegedly used in the commission of the atrocities, with registration numbers UAU 737T and UAV 473Y, were impounded and parked at Kajjansi Central Police Station (CPS).
The police say the first incident of abduction and murder occurred on March 31, 2024, when Awori Judith, a 25-year-old waitress at Royal Ark Restaurant in Lweza Cell, Ndejje in Kajjansi Town Council, was found murdered and her body dumped near St. Luke Church in Lweza. The victim was strangled to death at an unknown place and dumped.
Again on April 23, 2024, the body of another unknown female adult was found in a sack at Kawotto cell in Kajjansi Town Council. It was dumped by a male suspect who was captured on camera fleeing from the scene after setting fire to the body.
On April 29, 2024, another report was made at Kajjansi Police Station after another female adult, identified as Nassali Jenipher, was murdered by unknown persons and her body dumped at Bweya cell in Kajjansi Town Council. The deceased had signs of strangulation around the neck area, and her face was blindfolded with a polythene bag.
On May 9, 2024, another body of an unknown female adult victim was found dumped along Jjanja–Lutembe Beach Road at around 9 am by an unidentified motor vehicle.
On May 15, 2024, a report of the disappearance of Nangobi Sandra was made at Kajjansi Police Division by her mother, Tendo Sulaina, after the victim left home at Kitende “B” cell, Kajjansi Town Council, at 5 am, but did not reach her workplace in Makindye.
The victim’s phone was switched off and her whereabouts were unknown.
“There is substantial evidence linking the gang to the disappearance and death of the victims. The modus operandi in relation to the deaths of the five women is similar, and the motive was robbery. We have obtained DNA samples for comparison with the samples picked from the bodies of the victims and from the two taxis,” said the police, before advising members of the public who leave their homes very early and those who return late from work to be very careful while boarding taxis that are not from the gazetted stage points.
