The Directorate of Crime Intelligence has arrested 24 suspects who form part of a criminal network, involved in the financing of ADF terrorism activities, in the DRC and in Uganda.
Among those arrested are; Kyeyune Isma alias Ismail alias Beckam alias Buguman alias Musilamu alias Mohammad a 30 year old, boda-boda rider and a resident of Bulaga- Nakabugo and Kinamundu villages in Wakiso District.
CP Enanga Fred, Police Spokesperson, said Kyeyune was recruited in the ADF ranks in 2021 by Adam Matovu alias Manhajji alias Musa Muko from Kalerwe.
The task team also arrested Musa Mubiru alias Musilamu alias Professor alias Sheikh alias Nathan; Kiiza Patrick alias Pato; Kinene Hamis alias Mis and Wadimba Jackson alias Sejusa.
According to Enanga, together with others, the suspects allegedly paid allegiance to the ADF and admitted to conspiring with others to stage robberies of aggravated nature.
“The proceeds were being used to finance ADF activities (including recruitment of future terrorist fighter), and also cover welfare costs of families of ADF fighters,” Enanga noted.
The two suspects were trained in combat and martial art skills from Kawempe- Ttula, together with Ajode, Musa Kabanda alias Musomesa and Mwebe, who were arrested recently from the ADF hub in Luwero.
During the disruptive operations, two notorious gang leaders, were fatally wounded, one while resisting arrest and the other during a foiled robbery.
One of them was identified as; Tomusange Farouk alias Otto alias Juma Otti alias Ssebaduka Ramadhan alias Abdulaziz Nsubuga.
His gang participated in the robbery of Ugx 300m from Mohammad Ahmed, a Somali businessman at Equatorial Hotel on May 25, 2020.
They robbed Her Worship Gladys Kamasanyu at Green Hill Academy on July 17, 2021; robbed Ugx 400m from Lee Yin Tang, a Chinese Businessman along Nkurumah road, robbed Juwan Lal, an Indian businessman along Mawanda road; and robbed 100.000 Euros from Kushamohan Konnakutty, an Indian businessman at the Jinja Road Traffic junction, among others.
Tomusange was, however, shot dead on the June 5, 2022, from Kyeyagalire zone, Makindye, during a violent counter operation.
The second gang leader, identified as Mugalu Ibra alias Nakwero, was shot dead during a foiled robbery at Old Kampala in Mengo on the June 2, 2022.
The former convict was involved in the robbery of Ugx 150m and two mobile phones from Gitawu Abdallah, a Kenyan businessman along Apollo Kaggwa road; robbed USD 4500 and Ugx 20m, from KE QIU FANG MA LEE, a Chinese businessman; also robbed 3 separate South Sudanese business persons at Kawaala (USD 80.000); Bakuli Mengo (USD 30.000); Kasubi – Namungoona (USD 10.000).
The criminal gang network conducted effective surveillance against foreign businessmen transporting cash, whom they attacked at suitable get-away points, according to Enanga.
They further utilized various methods of secret communication to conceal their criminal activities.
Several exhibits of motorcycles, mobile phones and documents were recovered.
“We wish to inform the public that our counter-terror operations are still ongoing. We further thank our dedicated CI teams for disrupting the flow of terrorist funding, both indigenous and from external sources, which has been very critical in curtailing ADF terror activities in Uganda, since May 2021, when our disruptive operations began,” he added.