The Police in Kiira Region have busted a criminal network that has been targeting sugarcane suppliers of the Madhvani Group, arresting five prime suspects and impounding two getaway motorcycles.
The Madhvani Group is one of Uganda’s largest and oldest private conglomerates. Founded in Jinja in 1914 by Muljibhai Madhvani, its flagship business is Kakira Sugar Works Limited in Kakira, Jinja District — the country’s largest sugar producer accounting for over 40% of national sugar output.
The Group, which is headquartered in Kakira and contributes over 10% to Uganda’s GDP, also has interests in tea, hospitality, insurance, energy generation and other sectors, and is the biggest private employer in Uganda.
The operation to protect its suppliers was conducted on the instructions of the Regional Police Commander Kiira, SSP Charles Nsaba, who ordered intensified intelligence-led operations to shield Madhvani sugarcane suppliers and the entire workforce from financial loss and physical harm.
Acting on the orders, the DPC Kiira East Division (Kakira), SP Tai Ramathan, intensified tracking of the syndicate which lies in wait around the Madhvani Group headquarters in Jinja District.
According to the regional police mouthpiece SP James Mubi, the suspects monitor suppliers who make substantial cash withdrawals from Tropical Bank located within the Madhvani headquarters premises. They then follow, attack and rob the victims, sometimes inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Suspects Arrested.
SP Mubiin a statement emailed to The Exposure Uganda(TEU) says five prime suspects have been arrested. Police say they originate from Seeta, Mukono District, and use motorcycles to facilitate their movements and escape from crime scenes. Two motorcycles used in the robberies have been impounded.
The suspects include Marvin Ntalo who is believed to be the coordinator using phone calls to direct operations, Wilber Kairugavu who is a motorcycle rider, Alex Kibuuka and his girlfriend Margaret Nabirye who is a campus student, and Ali Hasasha who is also a boda-boda rider.
Police investigations indicate that Ntalo, Kairugavu and Kibuuka are based in Seeta, Mukono. From there, they identify potential victims, carry out surveillance on banking premises across the country, coordinate accomplices and execute attacks.
More suspects on the intelligence watchlist are still wanted.
Relief for Suppliers.
According to SP James Mubi, Madhvani sugarcane suppliers and other workers have expressed gratitude to the Kiira Regional Police Command for restoring order.
Police Advisory.
The Kakira DPC Tai Ramathan has called upon the public to report all suspicious persons and activities within their communities. He has also called upon the Tropical Bank manager to take full charge of the banking compound, noting that the compound is allegedly harboring wrong elements who occupy the banking hall and its surroundings from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM without proper identification and clear purpose.
Police have further advised farmers and suppliers who withdraw cash from banks to exercise utmost caution. Farmers are encouraged to embrace cashless transactions such as bank transfers and mobile money where possible and to avoid disclosing the amount withdrawn or displaying cash openly in the banking hall.
It is advisable to keep money discreetly in an inner pocket and not in envelopes or polythene bags that attract attention.
Police also urge farmers not to move alone with large sums of cash but to move with a trusted person and where the amount is substantial to seek escort from the nearest police station.
To avoid surveillance by criminals, farmers should vary their banking days, branches and routes instead of using the same routine.
Before leaving the bank, they should take time to observe whether anyone who was loitering inside is following them and if they notice any suspicious movement they should return inside the bank and alert security or police immediately.
For large withdrawals, use of a trusted vehicle is safer than a boda-boda and farmers are advised to go straight to their destination without making stops in trading centers. Any suspicious persons lingering in bank compounds should be reported to the bank manager and police without delay.
Police say operations to arrest the remaining suspects are ongoing.
