By Abdulkarim Ssengendo
THE Police in Mbarara are holding the LC3 chairman of Burunga sub-county, Kiruhura district on allegations of receiving bribes from people who steal railway sleepers.

Keret Asiimwe was arrested together with the officer in charge of Burunga Police Post, Edrick Tumwesigye and his deputy, Milton Karaba.

The three were arrested after people suspected to have stolen railway sleepers confessed to conniving with them in the crime.

The Police said the suspects were arrested following an accident in which a vehicle that was carrying stolen sleepers swerved off the road.

Kiruhura district Police commander James Katushabe said the suspects were transferred to the Mbarara Regional Police for further investigations.

South-western regional Police spokesperson Polly Namaye said the suspects would soon be taken to court.

Meanwhile, Kiruhura district leaders have decried the high rate at which railway sleepers are stolen.

The resident district commissioner, Alinemary Kemerwa, said: “Some time back we arrested people over the theft of railway sleepers and took them to the Police but we do not know how the cases ended.”

She was addressing journalists at Lake View Hotel, Mbarara on Thursday.

Kemerwa added that the district Police commander of Kiruhura also received a threatening message from his bosses as he tried to arrest the three suspects.