Following a violent robbery attempt that led to the death of a woman on Thursday evening, the Kampala Metropolitan Police have introduced a permanent security deployment along the Northern Bypass, with a focus on the Naalya roundabout area. The move is aimed at addressing a resurgence in highway robberies that had previously subsided after a series of crackdowns.

Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire revealed that law enforcement officers will now be stationed along the bypass, particularly during rush hours, to safeguard commuters. "These incidents of robbery have resurfaced on the Northern Bypass, particularly on the Naalya stretch, where many people have been attacked on the road, others in their cars, and now motorcyclists. We've resolved to deploy a permanent team of police officers to mitigate this situation, especially during traffic jams," Owoyesigyire stated.

The latest incident involved Agnes Namumpa, who reportedly sustained fatal head injuries after falling off a Boda boda when she was attacked by two assailants riding a separate motorcycle. Police reports indicate that she had boarded a motorcycle in Ntinda and was on her way home to Kira, allegedly carrying a large sum of money. The attackers are believed to have trailed her journey until they made their move near the Oryx Pump station, close to the Naalya roundabout.

Eyewitness John Bosco Kalema described the sequence of events, saying: "It was during the evening rush hour, amidst heavy traffic, that the incident occurred. The rider was nearing the top of the hill when two men on a motorcycle pulled the motorcycle down. The woman fell off severely, and by the time we rushed her to the clinic, she had already succumbed to her injuries," Kalema said.

According to Owoyesigyire, the attackers fled the scene without managing to steal Namumpa’s bag, after being chased off by other boda boda riders. "Her close associates mentioned that she had huge sums of cash in her bag, and these thugs were following her from Ntinda. So, when her boda boda rider reached Oryx, just meters from Naalya roundabout, they tried to grab her bag, and she fought back. In the process, she fell off and hit her head on the road," he explained.

He further mentioned that a joint operation is underway to track down the suspects, using surveillance footage from the vicinity. "Currently, we're conducting joint investigations with our sister agencies, utilizing CCTV footage to track the movements of both the victim and the suspects. This will enable us to easily track and apprehend them," Owoyesigyire said.

Though security efforts had previously reduced the frequency of such attacks on the Northern Bypass where motorists and joggers were often targeted, recent incidents have sparked renewed fears. Last year, a similar case involved the killing of a petrol station manager near the Agenda flyover, raising alarms about safety along the route.

In another case from September last year, 30-year-old Agnes Nantongo, a Matugga resident, was found dead near Agenda Bridge. She had reportedly been struck by unidentified attackers while waiting for a taxi, and her body was discovered the next morning in nearby bushes.

In light of these recurring incidents, police believe that the newly deployed permanent force will function both as a deterrent and as a quick-response unit to ensure the safety of travelers along the increasingly dangerous highway.

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