New trick used by Boda Boda robbers unearthed

Following the one minute video circulated on social media showing two men who pretended to be passengers on a Boda Boda ask the rider to stop after reaching their destination but in the process, they strangled him before repeatedly hitting him on the head with a huge stone killing him instantly, security started a crackdown on the gang involved.

Consequently, a number of suspects were arrested for masterminding the robberies and murders of Boda Boda riders in various parts of the city.

Last week, three John Alex Sezira, a rider belonging to Safe Boda was asked by a passenger from Kajjansi to be taken to Butambala, only to be killed along the way and body dumped in a stream.

Just like Sezira, another Boda Boda rider from the city center was fattened like a bull and led to the slaughterhouse, only for him to survive by a whisker.

According to Bright Mugisha, a resident of Kirombe, Luzira in Nakawa Division, he was early this week approached by a customer asking to be taken to Nansana in Wakiso district.

“At around 5 pm, a customer came to my stage near Mabirizi complex asking to ride him to Nansana and I obliged,” Mugisha narrates his story.

“We agreed that he would pay shs10, 000 for the journey and we took off.”

The Boda Boda rider says that on reaching Nansana, the passenger asked to use his (Mugisha) phone to call a person who was to give him money for the services offered by his phone was off.

“He told me the person to give him money had left town with his phone and was destined for Nansana. When we called and the phone was off, the passenger asked me to take him to Kakiri and we agreed he would now pay a total sum of Shs20, 000.”

The Boda Boda rider says that at Kakiri, it was the same story as the ‘passenger’ told him the person to give him money could have driven up to Kiboga and asked to give a chase to the vehicle.

“He said he would give me Shs100,000 to Kiboga and another shs80,000 for the journey back,” Mugisha adds.

“I realized something was amiss and I requested that we go to a nearby Boda Boda stage from where I asked the money to pay the Shs20, 000 that we had agreed for the distance to Kakiri.”

At this point, Mugisha says, he said he could not continue with the journey to Kiboga but fellow Boda Boda riders at a stage in Kakiri said they could take the customer to Kiboga if he agrees to be checked before the ride.

“On checking, he was found with a knife in his waist prompting my colleagues to pounce on him.”

According to Mugisha, as the riders interrogated the suspect, he confessed to be working for certain businessmen in Kiboga, Lyantonde, and Wakiso and said he was ready to lead them to those buyers.

“While he was being beaten, police intervened and arrested the suspect before he died.”

Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed the incident, noting that investigations into the matter have kicked off.

“The Flying Squad has got the suspect from Kakiri and they will interrogate him before tracking other suspects,” Owoyesigyire said.

“We shall follow any leads he gives us that could lead us to arrest of more suspects.”

According to police sources, robbers now use a trick of luring Boda Boda riders for long distances before killing and robbing their motorcycles.

“They will accept to pay any amount that the rider tells them but in their mind know the mission they are on. They use knives or ropes that they tie around the rider to kill him,” a source privy to investigations into the criminals told the Nile Post.

Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga on Monday warned Boda Boda riders against lying long routes or else they might fall victim to robbers.

“They should be vigilant because we still have threats. They should desist from long night travel. They need to coordinate with their colleagues at nearby stages so that they stop somewhere and let other Boda Boda riders familiar with the area take the passenger further,” Enanga said.

In the crackdown against the gang behind the widespread Boda Boda robberies, the two suspected captured in the video strangling a rider were arrested.

Bosco Mugisha and Derrick Muwonge, also known as Young Mulo(not the singer) later confessed to having participated in at least five robberies and murders including the one captured on video in Mengo.

Police named Abdullah Nsubuga killed on January 21 in Kizungu, Makindye, Damiano Sekalala killed on April 24 in Makindye, Godfrey Nkata, who was killed on June 3, Emmanuel Gatete killed on March 13 along Salaama road in Makindye and Tom Wamala killed on June 2 as some of the victims of the criminal gang targeting Boda Boda riders.

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