Residents of Kazo Central Zone 1 say armed attackers posing as police officers beat victims and stole valuables during a midnight raid, with a pistol and other suspected weapons recovered as investigations continue.
Residents of Kazo Central Zone 1 in Nansana Municipality, Wakiso District, are demanding stronger security after suspected armed robbers disguised as police officers raided homes, assaulted occupants and stole money, mobile phones and other valuables.
The attackers, reportedly armed with a pistol, machetes and a hammer, struck in the early hours of Sunday, leaving several residents injured and raising concerns about security in the neighbourhood.
One of the victims, Susan Baluku, who was attacked alongside her husband, said the ordeal began after they noticed suspicious movements around their home.
“Before the attack, we became suspicious of our neighbour, who kept moving towards the back of the house. Shortly afterwards, two masked men wearing jackets resembling police uniforms appeared and started beating us while demanding our belongings,” Baluku said.
She said the attackers initially appeared to be police officers because of their clothing, but their conduct soon raised suspicion.
“At first, we thought they were police officers because of how they were dressed. However, they started punching and kicking us while demanding money and phones. That is when we realised we were dealing with robbers,” she said.
Baluku said the assailants later forced her to knock on the door of their landlord, Ssalongo Godfrey Ssebuufu, who was also attacked.
“They ordered me to knock on our landlord's door. When he opened, they attacked him and started hitting his hands with a hammer while demanding to know where he had hidden money and land documents,” she recounted.
Ssebuufu said he initially thought his tenant was seeking help because of an emergency.
“When I heard my tenant calling me, I thought she had encountered a problem and needed help. But immediately after opening the door, the attackers forced their way into my house,” he said.
He said the assailants searched several rooms while assaulting him with a hammer and their fists.
“I initially thought they were police officers because of their appearance. They started searching the house while beating me. I eventually raised an alarm, and that is when they fled,” he said.
The suspects reportedly attempted to escape with a resident's motorcycle but abandoned it after an alarm was raised.
During the confusion, the attackers reportedly fell while fleeing, dropping a pistol and a hammer believed to have been used in the robbery.
Residents recovered the items and handed them to the office of the area Local Council chairperson.
The incident took another turn when two young men, including Swalik Katongole, reported to area chairperson Med Mugerwa, claiming they had also been assaulted during the attack.
Some residents, however, questioned whether the two had information about the robbery, prompting police to search Katongole's rented room.
During the search, police reportedly recovered several weapons and suspected housebreaking tools, including machetes, knives and other implements.
The two men were subsequently taken to Kawempe Police Station to assist with investigations. It remains unclear whether the recovered items are connected to the robbery.
Mugerwa condemned the attack and called for closer collaboration among residents, landlords and local authorities to improve security.
He urged landlords to register their tenants and formally introduce them to local council leaders to help identify residents and support investigations when crimes occur.
“Landlords should ensure that all their tenants are known to local council leaders. This will help us strengthen security and make it easier to investigate criminal activities within our communities,” Mugerwa said.
Former Nansana Municipality Deputy Mayor Isaac Ssali expressed concern over reports that the attackers used a pistol while wearing clothing resembling police uniforms.
He called on security agencies to establish the firearm's origin and investigate whether it could have come from security personnel.
“Security agencies must investigate how a gun suspected to belong to security personnel could end up being used to terrorise innocent residents. We need answers because people's lives are at risk,” Ssali said.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Rachel Kawala confirmed that investigations into the robbery had commenced. The suspects were reportedly being held at Kawempe Police Station as police pursued inquiries into the incident.