Flying Squad Shoots Dead Three Suspected Thugs in Kyengera

The Police Flying Squad Unit has shot dead three suspected criminals in Kasenge Zone, Kyengera Town Council, Wakiso District. 

Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, Rachel Kawala, confirmed the incident on Monday evening, revealing that one of the deceased was found with a fake Uganda Police warrant card numbered 38468. 

The card bore the name Moses Byaruhanga, a purported Senior Traffic Sergeant who allegedly joined the force in 2016. Police also recovered a national identity card belonging to Moses Kachingwa. The other two suspects, one of whom died upon arrival at Mulago National Referral Hospital, remain unidentified. 

Preliminary investigations indicate that the trio had been trailing a businesswoman, with security operatives already tracking their movements following intelligence about their planned criminal activity. “The suspects were found in possession of a hammer, toy gun, knives, and housebreaking tools believed to have been used in a series of robberies targeting businesspeople. They trailed victims from Kampala to their residences,” Kawala stated.

Despite the successful operation, some local leaders questioned the use of lethal force. Kyengera Town Council Mayor, Mathias Walukaga, and area chairperson Frank Mawejje wondered whether killing the suspects might undermine ongoing investigations. They argued that, if the men were indeed part of a criminal syndicate, arresting them alive could have enabled police to identify and apprehend other accomplices.

This latest incident adds to growing concern over the use of deadly force by security agencies. On January 13, 2025, six suspected thugs were shot dead at Acacia Mall in Kampala in an operation involving security personnel. The suspects, riding motorcycles, were accused of trailing a bank client who had withdrawn cash. At the time, eyewitnesses also questioned the level of force applied.