Gang violent offending and victimization in Uganda takes many forms, including bullying, fighting, theft, robbery, burglary, brandishing weapons, and in extreme cases, murder. Of recent, many gangs have come in the guise of beefing illegal security services to different persons of the society.
However, in most cases, the illegal gangs have accelerated infringements on rights of the rest of the members of the society and in some notable incidents resulted into gruesome activities and gruesome security nuisance leading to a general public outcry and wonders on whether it is the end of the beginning or the beginning of the end to illegal criminal gangs in Uganda?
Uganda has had notable organized or perhaps sponsored gangs that have eventually collapsed over time for example the Boda-Boda 2010 that was led by Abdullah Kitata that terrorized boda boda riders and business men in Kampala metropolitan, the Sipapa gang that looted arcades and involved itself in political violence against the National Unity Platform (NUP) and its supporters, Sobi and other organized criminal gangs
Gangs are a very dangerous security threat and are one of the key features of a failing state security mechanism as seen in Haiti, Myanmar, the drug cartels of South America, and the armed gangs in Iraq etc as these are indicators of a breakdown in law and order enforcing mechanisms. They emerge because of weaknesses or the complete collapse of the state security apparatus for example the police and the military inability to either keep law and order, or inability to disband the gangs given their illegal status.
During the Enkuuka New Year Festival organized by Buganda Kingdom, Alien Skin’s illegal criminal gang attempted to breach protocol by forcing their way onto the stage, demanding that the violent musician performs out of turn.  The bigger question is that, are gangs legal in Uganda.
Bouncers at the entrance tried to block the group, leading to a violent confrontation. Eyewitnesses reported punches being exchanged as the musician’s crew clashed with the event security.
The chaos spilled into the VIP section, where some attendees were reportedly assaulted by members of Alien Skin’s group. This was followed by assaults against revelers by the same gang. The population is still wondering whether the side criminal gang and gang leader are un-touchable.
Is Uganda a failing state? I believe that the Uganda police still hold the territorial capacity to maintain law and order, the police and the state has not failed yet. The fact could be that state elements sponsored the said gangs to use them in incidences of state sponsored violence against specific targets.
Is this yet to end? A lot of un-answered questions especially when the perpetrators are always not apprehended by the security agencies even after numerous public outcries, easy to think about state sponsored violence against its citizens, a test to the Uganda Police Force.
Are these gangs un-touchable? At the moment, everyone would say yes! Unless the security agencies prove otherwise! The gangs and gang leaders have continued to walk freely without any apprehension from the security agencies even after gruesome violence activities against the public are being committed in broad-day light for example every security agency watched people being battered in the Nkuka festival, and the several public outcries.
Inter-gang conflict, masculine posturing, and involvement in illicit activities are all part of the gang lifestyle. In a notable incident of inter-gang conflict, on New Year’s Day at the Empelle Festival in Buloba, Alien Skin’s gang stormed the stage in an attempt to disrupt singer Pius Mayanja alias Pallaso’s performance. The group sought to stop Pallaso from finishing his set, prompting Pallaso’s team to fight back
The reciprocal nature of gang conflict suggests that those involved in higher levels of violent offending are also at higher risk of experiencing violent victimizations. All this is real about Uganda criminal gangs for example, according to police reports Pallaso and his group, “reportedly armed with pangas, pit axes, hammers, and stones, stormed Alien Skin’s residence in Kisungu Zone in two separate attacks on January 2, 2025, and left a trail of destruction, including a burnt range rover and significant damage to multiple vehicles and homes,” said Patrick Onyango the Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokes Person.
Is it the end of the beginning or the beginning of the end to illegal criminal gangs in Uganda?
Richard Byamukama is a lawyer and a security studies expert.
