Residents of Kazo, under the leadership of their Local Council chairperson Nathan Bogere, also known as Pakacha, have arrested two suspected criminals who have allegedly been terrorizing the area and surrounding neighbourhoods.
The suspects, identified by residents as Swedi and Kizza, were apprehended at around 11:00pm while allegedly attempting to break into a resident’s home in Kazo.
According to residents, the duo is believed to be part of a larger gang that has been carrying out violent robberies in areas including Kawempe, Bwaise, and Nansana.
The gang is accused of attacking people on roads, especially boda boda riders, stealing mobile phones, bags, and other belongings, often using sharp weapons.
“These criminals have been disturbing us for a long time. They would attack at dawn, and many of us could not sleep because of fear,” one resident said.
Bogere explained that the village security committee, led by Defence Secretary Lydia Nakonde, decided to organize night patrols to curb the rising insecurity.
“As leaders, we resolved to protect our people. With the help of our security team, we conducted patrols and managed to arrest these suspects,” Bogere said.
He added that the suspects were later handed over to Uganda Police Force at Kawempe Police Station for further investigation.
“We believe they are not alone. There are others still out there, but we are continuing with the operations to ensure they are all arrested,” he added.
Bogere also warned youths involved in criminal activities to abandon such behavior or face the consequences.
“We know some of the youths engaging in these acts. They should look for honest work because we shall not hesitate to arrest anyone found disturbing the peace of our community,” he cautioned.
Residents have since welcomed the move, saying the arrests have restored a sense of safety in the area.
“We are now able to rest without fear. We thank our leaders for taking security seriously,” another resident noted.
