Lighter sentences on criminals The Police has pointed the dramatic increase in street robberies and house break ins in the Kampala Metropolitan Area to fair penalties on perpetrators by the Courts of Law. Luke Owoyesigyire, the Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Spokesperson says many suspects arrested for participating in such crime are usually back to the […]
Lighter sentences on criminals
The Police has pointed the dramatic increase in street robberies and house break ins in the Kampala Metropolitan Area to fair penalties on perpetrators by the Courts of Law.
Luke Owoyesigyire, the Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Spokesperson says many suspects arrested for participating in such crime are usually back to the streets in no time given lighter sentences for their actions. Owoyesigyire says most suspects plead guilty in Court while others are released for lack of sufficient evidence against them.
“Many have been arrested and taken to Courts of Law but they still find their way back on the streets after being given lighter sentences like doing community work or even pleading guilty and sometimes there isn’t sufficient evidence against them, so they are left to go. We have seen pockets of crime in communities like the Northern Bypass.” He said
His comments follow a recent incident in which over ten thugs were arrested for attempted robbery on the residence of one Robert Kabandize from Makayi zone-Nateete parish. Kabandize informed officers at Nateete Police post that over ten goons had entered his premises in the wee hours of Monday at 1:00 am and they responded on time by attacking the thieves and firing bullets.
One of the suspects Moses Mukasa alias Mukalu was arrested and led the police to the hideout of the other suspects.
Owoyesigyire says the same thugs had just been released from Kitalya Prison for terrorizing motorists along the Northern Bypass. He adds that since police started a crackdown on street theft along the Northern bypass, incidents of house robberies have also intensified.
Lighter sentences on criminals
House break-ins have increased in Lungujja, Kasubi, Namungoona, Mengo Kisenyi, and Nansana areas where criminals reportedly cut roof tiles and doused their victims to gain access to the properties.
On January 11, 2022, Police Spokesperson Free Enanga told journalists that at least 78 people suspects believed to be part of the racket terrorizing motorists and pedestrians along the Northern bypass in Kampala were netted. Enanga said they first netted 38 suspects and another 40 the following week.
They suspects aged between 14-25 years were arrested at various police stations including;at Kira-road, Kawempe, Wandegeya, and Old Kampala police stations. 60 suspects were found with a violent criminal background and in possession of sharp weapons and narcotic substances.
According to the annual crime report 2020 compiled by the Police Criminal Investigations Directorate-CID, 10,113 housebreakings were reported compared to 12,919 cases registered in 2019.
