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Probe of Shootings at Acacia Mall Hits Snag

URN understands that CMI joined the operation after two of the eight persons robbed of their money in a ride-along attack were associated with the army spy agency. Sources said one of the persons robbed 100 million shillings is a logistics supplier to the army.
04 Feb 2025 16:42
A police Patrol with the bodies after the shootings

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The directive by the Minister for Internal Affairs, Maj Gen (rtd) Kahinda Otafiire, to Inspector General of Police, Abas Byakagaba, to probe the Acacia Avenue shooting to the death of six suspected money robbers has hit a snag.

Six people were killed on January 13 at Acacia Avenue and Mawanda road in an operation which Uganda Radio Network (URN) has reliably been informed was conducted by Defence Intelligence and Security (DIS) formerly Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) and Flying Squad Unit (FSU) under police’s Directorate of Crime Intelligence (DCI).

The killed suspected robbers were later on identified as Hamis Mohamed, Sharif Lukwago, Michael Ssebakka, Fahad Katongole, Innocent Tuyishabe aka Adam, and Zake Maniriho also known as Daddy Easy.

When the names were revealed, it was discovered that Ssebakka, Tuyishabe and Maniriho did not have criminal records at any police station or in any civil court.

The information of the trio being innocently killed for simply riding the suspected robbers or being near the criminals attracted public uproar. The legislators demanded an explanation from Minister Otafiire.

In response, Otafiire directed IGP Byakagaba to ensure all security agencies that participated in the operation provided details of the officers who took part and explained what warranted a shoot-to-kill decision.

“I have already talked to the Inspector General of Police and requested a report on the incident. Under no circumstances should a Ugandan be executed. I regret that these six Ugandans were gunned down on mere suspicion,” Otafiire said.

However, URN has been informed that to date CMI and DCI have not provided the names of the security officers who took part in the operation which left the six people killed. “There is a total disregard for this directive. The security agencies are uncooperative. They are not willing to reveal their officers since there is possible prosecution over extra-judicial killing,” a senior security officer said. 

URN understands that CMI joined the operation after two of the eight persons robbed of their money in a ride-along attack were associated with the army spy agency. Sources said one of the persons robbed 100 million shillings is a logistics supplier to the army.

“The operation was to eliminate the thugs because close confidants and business dealers linked to some of the army agencies had been robbed of more than 300 million shillings in a space of three weeks. The last person’s robbery of 100 million shillings was the last nail the thugs’ acts because CMI immediately took over the hunt,” a senior security officer explained.

URN has been informed that in the last six incidents, Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras recorded the thugs’ movement and endpoints. Later on, the CCTV command centre at Naguru manned by both police and military in collaboration with the Directorate of Forensic Science was able to retrieve images and criminal records of the suspected thugs.

“When the images and details of the thugs were obtained, it was resolved a joint operation involving police and military should be conducted. Two days after the operation decision had been made, these thugs robbed a businessman of 100 million shillings in Maganjo after he had withdrawn it from Centenary Bank in Kawempe,” a security officer at Naguru said. 

The last person robbed of his money before security agencies shot the suspected thugs was Fred Tibamanya and his 100 million shillings was taken in a jam by thugs on three motorcycles holding machetes.

Tibamanya withdrew the money at a Centenary Bank branch at Kawempe and put it in a bag which he placed inside his car and started driving toward Maganjo where he was encircled. 

Patrick Onyango the Kampala metropolitan police spokesperson said Tibamanya’s attackers dumped the bag near Kyadondo Hospital after removing the money.

CID records at Kampala Central Police Station show that the criminals had robbed money close to a billion shillings in ride-along attacks in six months. In Nakawa, they robbed over 400 million shillings, in Makindye more than 100 shillings while in Kawempe at least 150 million shillings including that of Tibamanya had been robbed between December 2024 and January 2025.

When asked for an update regarding the probe directed by Minister Otafiire, Police Spokesperson, ACP Kituuma Rusoke, said they are progressing with the investigation without divulging much. He said the public should wait for updates.

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