Gunshots rocked Kanyanya on the outskirts of the city as the police pursued a gang of panga wielding thugs that had burgled into a string of homes, robbing residents in the wee hours of Friday.
The police fired in the air as the pursued a group of about 10 to 15 thugs also armed with sticks as they made off with their loot after breaking into three homes in Kanyanya Komamboga zone, police said.
However, residents said about 10 homes had been broken into. The thugs are said to have broken into the homes at about 4:00am, making off with house hold items and electronic appliances estimated in millions of shilling. In one home they are said to have made off with sh 5m.
The thugs are also said to have roughed up the area secretary of defence, whose identity the police was trying to establish by press time.
“They were robbing TV’s, DVD players, music systems and other electronic appliances,” Kampala police spokesperson Ibin Ssenkumbi said yesterday. Upon breaking into a home, the thugs, police quoting residents, said would order all the occupants to lie on the floor, face down and demand for money with menace, threatening to slash any one who tried to raise his or her head.
Police said the thugs broke into the residences of Julius Monday, Sadat Anwar and Maureen Namatovu, taking with them their loot in suitcases. Ssenkumbi said shortly after the robberies police was alerted and pursued the thugs, firing volleys in the air, prompting the thugs to drop some of their loot and weapons as they fled.
“We recovered some items in suitcases which they had dropped and brand new pangas which we think they had procured purposely for the robbery,” Ssenkumbi said adding that the hunt was on for the thugs.
“Fortunately the people have identified some of them wand we are now hunting for them,” he said. Yesterday’s incident creates a disturbing pattern in the area given that it comes almost a fortnight after a similar incident, worrying the residents. However, police expressed optimism that this time they will make a break through.
“This time some of them have ben identified and they are boys from the area,” Ssenkumbi said and urged residents to also volunteer in confidence any other information on the group to the police.
By Steven Candia, The New Vision
