Kampala — Armed robbery is on the increase in urban areas and on highways in the central region causing fear among travellers and the business community, Saturday Monitor can reveal.

Central region Police Publicist Moses Kafeero confirmed the return of the criminals on Wednesday. "It is true armed robbers have made a comeback. We have got cases in Kayunga, Wakiso, Luweero, Nakasongola and Mukono districts," Mr Kafeero said.

Mr Kafeero, however, said police has launched an operation to arrest the gangsters. "It is a big challenge because many cases have been reported but we haven't got the culprits yet. But our investigative department is closely working with the Violent Crime Crack Unit (VCCU) to apprehend the suspects," he added.

Saturday Monitor has learnt that cases of armed robbery have been on the rise since August this year and the number is continuing to rise.

The continuous rise in armed robbery prompted the central region senior police officers to hold an emergency meeting on Monday at the Central Police Station in Kampala to lay strategies on how to secure the region.

Kampala Extra region Police spokesman Simeo Nsubuga confirmed that regional police chiefs had met and agreed on a number of security measures to deal with the problem. Among the many victims who have been attacked include the Commissioner of Planning in the Ministry of Health, Dr Francis Runumi.

According to the Police, two armed robbers attacked Dr Runumi's residence in Entebbe, Wakiso District, on October 29 and made off with Shs1.2 million, a driving permit and other valuables. In another incident, armed robbers shot and killed Michael Mugambe, 43, a special hire driver at Mulago stage and dropped his body at Masuliita Road in Kamuli parish, Wakiso District on Monday.

Police have also recorded a case in which a bus registration number UAK 744K belonging to Gotlangit Bus Services travelling from Gulu to Kampala was attacked by armed robbers at midnight in Nakasongola District, on the Kampala-Gulu highway. "An armed robber who was on board put the driver at gun-point at a place called Mijeera and ordered him to stop. Another robber swung into action, drew a pistol and shot at one of the passengers," Mr Kafeero explained.

In the the ensuing struggle, the driver lost control forcing the bus to veer off the road. Although no one was hurt, suspected robbers, who victims said were about five managed to rob all passengers of their property estimated in millions of shillings before they escaped. Police is still hunting for the suspects.

Last month, in the same area (Migeera) a resident was shot and killed and now police suspect that some of the armed gangsters are permanently operating in the area.

Police has previously warned that there is a clear trend that robbers normally step-up their illegal operations during the period leading to Christmas. "We normally get such cases towards Christmas. People especially travellers should take serious precautions. They should avoid travelling at night because this is when the robbers operate most," Mr Kafeero said.

In Kayunga District, suspected robbers waylaid passengers between Nakifuma and Ndese and robbed them of millions of shillings on Monday. On the same day thugs also robbed a Land Cruiser Reg. No. UAL 840E before kidnapping the driver whom they dumped in Nagojje on Kampala-Jinja highway. Police said despite use of sniffer dogs, they could not not trace the suspects.

"These armed gangsters are well organised," Mr Kafeero said. "They operate in areas which have no telecommunication network like Lugalambo, Mijeera and Monaco along Kampala-Jinja Highway."

Recently, a Crown Beverage employee was shot dead when robbers using a boda boda cycle waylaid a car transporting company products on Busabala Road just a few kilometres from Kampala, Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba told Saturday Monitor, in a separate interview.

Former East African Community general secretary Amanya Mushega has not been spared either. On Sunday, Mr Mushega narrowly survived being robbed as he drove to his home at Keirere village, Kakanju Sub-county in Bushenyi District.

The thugs reportedly staged a roadblock on the Bushenyi-Nyamiko road just half a kilometre from Mr Mushega's home. After sensing danger, Mr Mushega stopped at the roadblock and his escort swiftly fired in the air prompting the robbers to flee, Police said.