Soldiers, Police officers among 11 arrested over aggravated robbery and murder

JINJA - Kiira region Police say they have arrested 11 people on charges of aggravated robbery and murder during various operations in Jinja city.

While speaking to New Vision Online on November 2, 2025, Police region spokesperson James Mubi said among the 11 are soldiers and Police officers suspected to be involved in the aggravated robbery of motorcycle registration number UGG 556A and murder of bodaboda rider Emmanuel Ntambi, 20.

However, their identities were withheld in the interest of investigations.

Mubi said Ntambi was a resident of Namwesi in Mbiko, Njeru municipality in Buikwe district. His murder happened on October 18, 2025, in the premises of Uganda Response Development Capability (URDC) Level 11 in UPDF Gaddafi barracks.

“Intensive tracking has been ongoing, which has led to the arrest of six suspects, including Solomon Nowarinda, the prime culprit and recovery of exhibits of evidential value,” he said.

He identified others as accomplice Arafat Busulwa, suspected notorious motorcycle thief owning a night boda boda parking yard , Kevin Yokania Mukama and Kassim Kiryowa, a parking yard attendant.

The recovered exhibits of evidential value are a knife, a hammer, a warm suit, blood samples and the motorcycle UGG 556A that was recovered from the parking yard belonging to Mukama. 

The technological evidence, Police said, implicates all the above suspects both before and on the fateful day.

Mubi added that others arrested are David Kigenyi, Adam Magere and Fred Kato, suspected to have robbed and murdered Moses Itwalume, who was working as a security guard at a boda boda parking yard in Nakabango.

He said the incident occurred on October 15, 2025, at Nakabango cell, Namulesa ward, Jinja Northern division in Jinja city. After his murder, two motorcycles were robbed from the parking yard, notably UMA 493FK belonging to Stewart Kadyama and UGE 908P belonging to Amos Mutono.

Three suspects are in custody, and an exhibit of a hoe (murder weapon) recovered while the deceased was a key witness in a land matter that was due for a hearing on October 16 at Jinja court. The motive of the murder is yet to be fully determined.

Mubi said in the last incident, two suspected criminals who have been stealing motor vehicle number plates and extorting money from unsuspecting individuals in Jinja city, using the mobile phone in the name of Justine Nankya (0744963863), were arrested.

The prime suspect was identified as Wilson Asiimwe and his accomplice Abudallah Menya aka Salongo, who was recently arrested from a betting house in Mafubira and found in possession of the said SIM card, have been residing in a lodge in Bugembe.

“Kiira regional Flying Squad Unit and joint Intelligence team tirelessly tracked the above suspects, who have been stealing motor vehicle number plates in areas of Mpumudde, Walukuba and Wanyange. Over 20 victims identified the said SIM card number, and their statements have been recorded. Any other person who could have been a victim should come and have his or her case opened up for thorough subsequent investigations,” Mubi said.

In July 2022, a gang of criminals headed by Simon Olowo and others was convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison at Kirinya Prisons.

According to investigations, Olowo, who was a resident of Gwara Gwara village in Kisoko sub-county in Tororo district, headed the racket by then and had developed a ten-year theft and extortion scheme (2021-2031).

Mubi urged the general public to closely work with the Police by providing timely information as they implement the policing strategies and initiatives of Kiira regional police command to ensure continuous public safety and security.

According to the 2024 Annual Police Crime Report, a total of 6,311 thefts of motorcycles were reported under review compared to 6,065 cases in 2023. In contrast, 4,329 cases of murder were reported in 2024, compared to 4,248 in 2023.