445 arrested in city swoop, 206 charged
Jul 24, 2007
A TOTAL 206 suspected criminals, out of 445 arrested in numerous Police swoops in various parts of Kampala city since the weekend, were charged in court on Monday.
By Steven Candia
A TOTAL 206 suspected criminals, out of 445 arrested in numerous Police swoops in various parts of Kampala city since the weekend, were charged in court on Monday.
“They were charged with various offences ranging from being in possession of narcotics, stolen property and house-breaking implements,â€
Kampala Central Police Station chief, Johnson Wadadha, said.
A total of 40 suspects were from Katwe Police Station, part of the 52 netted in the weekend swoop, while 166 were from the Central Police Station.
Wadadha said out of the 230 suspects earlier arrested, 71 appeared in court together with 95 others out of the 160 arrested on Monday.
“We screened them and all the 40, who were detained here, were taken to court,†said Katwe Police chief Amos Gumisiriza.
Other than being charged at any of the city courts like Buganda Road Court, the suspects were charged in Nsangi Court in Mpigi district and remanded in
Kabasanda Prison.
A source said the move was to prevent the suspects from being released on bail in the city courts due to congestion in the Kampala prisons.
“The city courts release them as soon as they appear because of lack of holding capacity in the prisons where they are to be remanded. So they return and cause more problems,†the source said.
The Police has intensified operations to rid the city of criminals ahead of the Commonwealth summit in November.
A TOTAL 206 suspected criminals, out of 445 arrested in numerous Police swoops in various parts of Kampala city since the weekend, were charged in court on Monday.
“They were charged with various offences ranging from being in possession of narcotics, stolen property and house-breaking implements,â€
Kampala Central Police Station chief, Johnson Wadadha, said.
A total of 40 suspects were from Katwe Police Station, part of the 52 netted in the weekend swoop, while 166 were from the Central Police Station.
Wadadha said out of the 230 suspects earlier arrested, 71 appeared in court together with 95 others out of the 160 arrested on Monday.
“We screened them and all the 40, who were detained here, were taken to court,†said Katwe Police chief Amos Gumisiriza.
Other than being charged at any of the city courts like Buganda Road Court, the suspects were charged in Nsangi Court in Mpigi district and remanded in
Kabasanda Prison.
A source said the move was to prevent the suspects from being released on bail in the city courts due to congestion in the Kampala prisons.
“The city courts release them as soon as they appear because of lack of holding capacity in the prisons where they are to be remanded. So they return and cause more problems,†the source said.
The Police has intensified operations to rid the city of criminals ahead of the Commonwealth summit in November.