KAMPALA-UGANDA/NEWSDAY: A new rebel group, the Uganda Coalition Forces of Change (UCFC) I recruited from Wakiso is behind the killing of police officers and robbing their guns, police said in Friday.
Since the beginnings ng of this month, the said rebels have killed six officers and robbed a number of guns.
But in Tuesday, police spokesperson, Fred Enanga said that security forces had penetrated the group, arresting 8 of their members.
“We have made a break through in our operations and arrested 8 suspects who form part of a newly formed rebel group, who purposely carry out violent attacks on security personnel and other civilians targ,” Enanga said in a press conference at Naguru.
The group he said is highly connected to the deadly attacks on 4 police officers attached to Busujju Police Station and Nakasozi Police Post respectively. Four guns have been robbed during these deadly attacks.
Enanga said facts gathered indicate that the collaborators, agents and operatives of the rebel outfit, opened two camps in Mityana district.
“One of them was at Wabunyira -Busujju and the other one at Kikandwa village. It is from these camps that their operatives lured two police officers namely; CPL Okech Alfred and PC Kigongo Moses, into an ambush where they killed and robbed two guns from them” Enanga said.
He added that the rebel operatives deserted the two camps, after the deadly attack at Busujju and shifted their base to the wetlands at Kabusi village, Bukuyo Town Council in Kassanda district.
“And it is from this new camp that they carried out another deadly attack on the 17.12.2021 at Nakasozi Police Post and killed two police officers who included CPL Nsubuga Francis and SPC Ddimba Paul. And then robbed their guns,”Enanga said.
He said police gained leads from the former rebel camps in Mityana, and tracked the assailants in Kassanda district.
“A successful raid was conducted on their hide-out in a wetland along the Kassanda – Kiboga road in Kabusi village, where eight suspects were rounded up and arrested,” Enanga said.
He named the suspects as Makumbi Mosh alias Engineer, the field commander, and a resident of Wakiso, Lugendo Stuart Savior alias Kufateeka aged 28, a Deputy Field Commander from Wakiso district; Mulindwa Julius, 32 year resident of Bukerekere village, Wakiso.
Others include Masembe John Nasif, a 28 year old, male adult from Kassanda district; Yamuremire Paul, 19, from Kisoro district, Ssenyonga Bob Robert , 25 from Rakai district; Nabukenya Topista, aged 50 years and resident of Namayumba, Wakiso; and Matovu Silvester, a 21 year old, male adult from Wakiso Town Council.
According to Enanga, the Field Commander of the group, Makumbi Mosh alias Engineer, clearly indicated how they were recruited, majorly from Wakiso district and thereafter, transported to their bases in Mityana, where they underwent basic training in guerrilla war tactics.
“They were further provided with material support and encouraged to conduct violent attacks on police officers, in advancement of the goals of the rebel group, of over throwing the current government. At the time of their arrest, they had concluded plans of attacking Sekanyonyi Police Station and acquire more guns. And also eliminate police officers whom they deemed as obstacles in their alleged fight for freedom” Enanga said.
But regardless of the rebel group zeal, Enanga said the arrests underscored the force’s resolve and commitment to identify, pursue and arrest all actors of violence.
“Our operations to track down all other members including the sponsors and coordinators of the rebel group are still active and ongoing. The eight suspects are being processed on charges of terrorism, being in unlawful possession of dangerous weapons, murder and aggravated robbery” Enanga said.
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