Relatives of Namanve forest encroachers demand their release

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | There was commotion at Mukono police station on Tuesday afternoon after relatives of 75 people who were arrested for encroaching on Namanve central forest reserve stormed the station demanding their release.

The suspects are part of over 500 people who descended on Namanve forest reserve last week armed with machetes and clubs and started parceling out the forest land into small plots.

Police swung into action to disperse the encroachers leading to the arrest of 75 suspects.

Yesterday afternoon, the relatives of the suspects stormed Mukono police station protesting their detention beyond the mandatory 48 hours without appearing in court.

Abdu Mbale, one of the protesters said there was no reason for the continued detention of the suspects because there is nothing to investigate.

Daniel Mpalanyi, another resident says they accepted to vacate the forest land but police has instead kept the suspects for five days in detention.

The Mukono Division Police Commander, Abubakar Musiho says the suspects were expected to appear in court on Monday but their file hasn’t returned from the Residents State Attorney where it was sent for perusal.

A police officer told URN on condition of anonymity that they had resolved to release the suspects on police bond but stayed the decision when they received news that Statehouse had picked interest in the matter.

Colonel Edith Nakalema, the head of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit told URN that president Yoweri Museveni has tasked her to investigate the encroachment on the forest land.

Nakalema has since tasked the Mukono Division Police Commander, Abubakar Musiho to find the ring leaders of the encroachers.

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URN