In a car chase characterized by an exchange of gunfire, the Police on Tuesday shot at three suspected robbers, killing one instantly and injuring two others. Two of the suspects who sustained gunshot injuries, were arrested and detained at Kajjansi Police Station.
Police identified the deceased as Mohammed and the two in custody as Frank Kalule and John Mbayitayizibwe. During the chase, six pedestrians got injured and are nursing wounds at different hospitals in the city. The incident began with residents tipping off the Police about a robbery in Kajjansi, on Entebbe Road. The suspects, who were travelling in a white Mitsubishi Pajero, reportedly robbed a 60-year-old woman identified as Nakusoke Najjemba, of an unspecified amount of money at Kitende, before they sped off.
When the Police arrived at the scene, they signalled the suspected robbers to stop, but they instead sped off towards Najjanankumbi, with the Police on their tail in hot pursuit, sirens sounding. The two sides then started exchanging gunfire in a scene only akin to Hollywood actionpacked movies.
During the chase, the robbers branched off Entebbe Road and joined the new expressway through Munyonyo, before heading towards Kabalagala in Makindye division. The Police cornered the thugs in Konge and shot and deflated the tyres of the vehicle they were travelling in.
Police speaks out
Kabalagala Police said the robbers mowed down pedestrians to try and divert their patrol vehicle from the chase.
“The thugs deliberately knocked civilians to avoid being chased by the Police, but we could not be deterred,” said an officer who was part of the chase, but preferred anonymity.
The Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, Patrick Onyango, said the Police arrested two thugs and neutralised one after exchanging gunfire.
“Police patrol cars were alerted that thugs travelling in a vehicle had robbed a woman and a hunt for the vehicle was mounted. “A chase ensued and it was intercepted around Kabalagala. In the process of exchanging gunfire with the thugs, one was hit and died,” Onyango said.
He said the suspects were first detained at Kabalagala Police Station, before they were transferred to Kajjansi Police Station.
An eyewitness who did not want to be named, said the assailants pounced on Najjemba shortly after she alighted from a private car in Kajjansi. They grabbed her bag, which is said to have had a huge amount of cash and ran off to a waiting vehicle