Police in Uganda say they have arrested nearly 2,000 people who were allegedly involved in a wave of crime that has hit the country in the past few weeks.
Briefing journalists on Monday, Ugandan police Force (UPF) spokesperson, Kituuma Rusoke, said in a one-week crackdown, police had detained hundreds of suspects on several charges, including burglary, robbery, use of narcotics and street mugging among others.
The East African country has witnessed a surge in murders and unprecedented cases of robberies on the streets of Kampala and other towns, as well as home break-ins in the past few days following the January 15 general election.
“We arrested over 700 suspects in the Kampala Metropolitan Area, as we targeted known blackspots, hideouts and narcotic hubs. The number of suspects arrested countrywide has reached 1, 905,” Rusoke said.
He said that during the operations, several narcotic drugs, as well as stolen items and other exhibits, were recovered.
Kampala has in recent months experienced a mix of high-profile thefts, mugging and gang-related attacks, particularly in crowded transport hubs and commercial zones.
Police have acknowledged an uptick in robberies and violent snatching cases, attributing some of the rise to repeat offenders reportedly released on bail in the past.
Security agencies have responded with crackdowns across crime “black spots”, arresting scores of suspects in operations targeting gangs, habitual offenders and drug-linked criminal activity.
Police said that many of the suspects are repeat offenders, many of whom have either served their sentences or been released on bail by courts of law.
He, however, said the intelligence-led operations will continue. “The main goal of these operations is to disrupt gangs, prevent crime and secure communities.
MG/as/APA