Jinja: Security operations targeting wrong elements that are terrorizing locals in the city last night left 110 gang stars and others arrested.
Police and other sister armed operatives on Wednesday embarked on an operation following the rampant panga-weldings that have left many killed, robbed and others seriously injured.
On Sunday June 18, the former Baba TV journalist, Rogers Kifubangabo, was brutally murdered by unknown assailants in the areas of Budhumbuli (Bugembe).
Locals have on several occasions expressed fear, rising voices to security and other concerned persons over theft and killings which are in high gear in Bugembe, Mafubira, Namulesa, Wanyange and in the local Jinja district.
The newly promoted Supretendent of Police (SP) James Mubi, the Kiira region police spokesperson, confirmed the arrest of the 110. He said they are currently detained at Nalufenya police station and will be arraigned in court to face charges of robbery, theft, murder among others.
“We are screening them and majority are thugs who will be prosecuted,” Mubi said while addressing Journalists.
He noted that; “Before the operations, we have held several engagements with local leaders, citizens and opinion leaders. Our intelligence went on ground for information and we acted.”
He emphasized that a camp of joint security operations was launched until there is peace in the city and around.
“We don’t want political leaders to intercept our operations, unless one is part of the criminals we are cracking down,” he said
Some locals, however, expressed mixed reactions, accusing police for not collaborating with leaders especially village chairpersons. These claim that they (police) are arresting innocents, leaving criminals free.
“They arrested my LC1 defense at 9pm. Some were found in their houses and forced them to open,” said Godfrey Kibuka, the Wanyange Lake cell chairman who claimed that police didn’t lias with him to trace wrong elements in his area of jurisdiction.
Local council one chairpersons called upon security to provide them with tags that can easily identify them as leaders.
Fred Mudhungu, a citizen of Nakanyonyi (Bugembe), attributed the rampant criminality to Jinja city council authorities that are sweeping vendors from streets. He advised police to lias with landlords to detect their criminal tenants.
