Five suspects arrested for vandalism of electricity installations

Detectives from the Special Investigation Unit-SIU have picked up five suspects in the ongoing operations against the increased cases of vandalism targeting electricity installations.

The operations came after records from the Ministry of Energy and Minerals Development showed that over 300 cases of vandalism relating to electricity infrastructure had been registered within a space of two years.  

Fred Enanga the Police Spokesperson says that the vandalism of electricity infrastructure has become a major setback in government programs, adding that police cannot sit back watch events unfold.

Cases of vandalism are common within the Kampala Metropolitan districts of Wakiso, Mukono and Kampala. He says that the five suspects were picked up from Wakiso, Mbarara, Mbale, Isingiro and Kazo districts.  

The suspects include Mukalazi Mukasa and Augustine Ssemombwe who were arrested for cutting angle bars on electric poles in Kamengo in Mpigi district along the Masaka-Kampala Highway, Brian Kawuki who was arrested in Kijungu Mbarara in connection to the vandalism of electricity lines and Ronald Nambotsa from Mbale district who was caught stealing copper wires another one only identified as Turyamureba who was arrested by police with the help of the community in the Isingiro district and Benson Baale from Kazo-Angola in Kawempe who was found with a lorry registration number UBD552Z full of concealed wires. 

Enanga says the five who are currently detained at Kireka, will be charged at the Utility specialized court at Buganda road anytime. The operations continue with an aim of arresting more culprits.