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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Police Crime Intelligence and the army have arrested 62 suspected vandals of electricity infrastructure. The suspects who were found in possession of conductors, transformers, wood and metallic poles were arrested in areas of Kampala, Wakiso, Luweero, Masaka, Mpigi, and Mityana districts.
Out of the 62 suspects, 17 sre Umeme staff who were found vandalizing transformers, or selling vandalized conductors. Kampala alone has 18 cases of vandalized power lines while Mityana comes second with 16 cases.
Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said in some operations, crime intelligence alongside UPDF were able to arrest 16 people loading conductors and transformers on vehicles in order to make money.
Some of the suspects that have been arrested include Joshua Damba, Edward Golooba, Peter Kasujja, Benard Sekwa, Joan Nakayenga, Charles Nsamba, Baker Bogore, Robert Mpugu and Ssalongo Sebwato.
Out of the 16 arrested in Mityana, according to crime intelligence, three were Umeme staff from Masaka city. Other Umeme staff who have been arrested in areas of Kabulasoke include John Ndugga, a resident of Kijjabwemi in Masaka, George Kibarizi and Charles Ssendi.
Enanga said crime intelligence and its sister security agencies have been able to arrest the suspects because of the information provided by the locals who witness these vandalism acts happening.
Peter Kaujju, the head of communication at Umeme, said they welcome security operations against vandals who destroy electricity infrastructure. Kaujju said whether it is Umeme staff or not, whoever is in breach of the law must be dealt with accordingly.
Kaujju explained that vandalism caused Umeme a loss of 25 billion shillings in restoring stolen transformers, cutting down electric poles, stolen angle bars, and conductors. In Kampala, security says acts of vandalizing Umeme infrastructure have majorly been in areas of Nsooba, Mulago, Kawempe, Kisenyi II, Kakajjo zone, Kisekka market, Namuwongo, and Kabawo zone in Mutundwe.
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