UPDF Deploys Special Intelligence Team to Probe Rising Gun Crimes

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) is set to deploy a special technical team from the Defence Intelligence and Security (DIS), formerly the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), to conduct extensive investigations into the rising wave of gun crimes in Gulu City, Uganda Radio Network has learnt.

At least two people have been shot dead, two others injured, and 10 motorcycles stolen at gunpoint over the past three weeks by unknown armed assailants in Gulu City and Gulu District, sparking growing fear among residents and the business community. 

Maj. Gen. Felix Busizoori, the Commander of the Fourth Infantry Division, told Uganda Radio Network on Thursday that the army is now closely coordinating with the Police to curb the escalating gun violence.

According to Gen. Busizoori, the army will deploy a technical team from the Defence Intelligence and Security to scan crime hotspots and help track down the armed suspects behind the attacks. 

“We are getting a technical team from CMI from Kampala because whenever a robbery takes place, those who participate in it have phones,” Gen. Busizoori said.

He added that the team would use technology to identify phone numbers active around crime scenes at the time the robberies occurred. 

“The technical team, which is coming, is going to scan around that place where the robbery has taken place and see the telephone numbers that were there. So, we are getting that team soon,” he said. 

The development comes barely a day after unknown armed men shot and injured a boda boda rider, assaulted another rider, and stole four motorcycles during brazen nighttime attacks in Gulu City on Tuesday.

The attacks occurred in Kirombe Ward in Bardege-Layibi Division and along the Gulu-Moroto Road in Laroo-Pece Division. In an earlier interview on Tuesday, the Deputy Resident City Commissioner in charge of Bardege-Laroo Division, where most of the recent gun crimes have occurred, said three suspects had been arrested in connection with the aggravated robberies. 

He alleged that the suspects, currently detained at Gulu Central Police Station, are linked to a network operating in Arua City and Arua District, where motorcycles stolen from different parts of the Acholi Sub-region and beyond are allegedly sold. 

Police, however, denied having the suspects in custody. Aswa West Police spokesperson David Ongom Mudong told Uganda Radio Network on Thursday that investigations are ongoing, adding that several of the stolen motorcycles are being tracked using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. 

Gulu City business community and the boda boda association leaders have since tasked the various security organs in the city to intervene in ensuring their safety amidst the growing gun crimes.