The Crime Intelligence
has arrested seven people for allegedly vandalizing electricity infrastructure.
The suspects
are Samuel Tumusiime, Innocent Mwekambe, Edgar Tashobya, Richard Atusasire, and
Johnson Mutaho. They were arrested with two vehicles that they allegedly used in committing their vandalism crime.
Clare
Nabakka, the Deputy Police Spokesperson, says that five suspects were tracked
and arrested in Mbarara City. She adds that the vehicles Toyota Wish UBG 233A
and UBD 498V were impounded. Among the suspects are electricians who have been
serving in electricity distribution companies.
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Two other suspects were also picked from Lugazi Municipality, Buikwe district.
They were found with a truck loaded with electric wires also known as conductors. Vehicle registration number UBG 143F was transporting vandalized wires to
Tembo Steel wool company in Kuzungu, Lugazi town at night.
Between October and December last year, a number of electric pylons and
electric poles were destroyed by persons whose motive was not known. Poles were
destroyed in Namanve, Bweyogerere, and Luweero.
Before the arrest of the suspects from Mbarara and Lugazi, UPDF and police had
arrested more than 20 suspects who were found with stores of vandalized
electric line angel bars. More than 60 tonnes of vandalized angel bars and
wires were recovered in Kisenyi, Kyengera, Mukono, Lugazi, Mpigi, Masaka, and
Mityana.
Peter Kaujju, the Umeme’s Head of Communications, said they have spent over 40
Billion Shillings in restoring vandalized electric poles and wires in the last
two years. Kaujju said in the last two years; vandalism acts by October had
cost them 14 billion Shillings while 26 billion Shillings was spent in 2021.
In his address to the nation, Museveni listed vandalism
of electricity infrastructure among other security challenges and directed
security forces to ensure culprits sabotaging the country’s peace and development
are apprehended.
Joseph Kato is currently a Master's candidate at Makerere University. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Mass Communication from Kampala International University, a Diploma in Journalism and he's also a graduate in Guidance and Counseling.
