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Police in Jinja city have arrested a suspect linked to the brutal murder of the former Mwiri Primary School headteacher.

They have also and recovered a motorcycle believed to have been used in the Friday, March 1, 2024, morning hacking of Alexander Isabirye as he went to church at dawn.

The arrest and recovery followed an operation where 86 other suspected criminals were arrested in Jinja city and district.

The motorcycle was recovered during a three-day joint security operation of the military and Police which took place from Friday up to Sunday (March 1-3, 2024).

Kiira Police region spokesperson James Mubi on Monday said of the 87 suspects netted, one was connected to Isabirye’s murder. Isabirye was attacked at his gate at Nakanyonyi village in Bugembe, Jinja city northern division while heading to church at 6:00am.

“I can confirm that one of the suspects in Isabirye’s murder was netted and the motorcycle that was used in the commission of the crime has been recovered,” Mubi told New Vision on Monday.

Isabirye was rushed to a nearby One World Hospital but was referred to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital and spent few hours in the Intensive Care Unit before he was again referred to Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala where he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday morning.

Former Mwiri Primary School head teacher, Alexander Isabirye (right). (File)

Mubi said the operations were conducted in parts of Bugembe, Mafubira, Mpumudde, Masese, Madhivan Market, Nile Avenue, Walukuba and Kirinya. During these operations, the spokesperson said they retrieved iron bars, pangas, marijuana, house breaking implements and stolen properties from the suspects.

He added that some of the suspects were linked to similar incidents in which five other people were hacked in different places but almost at the same time on the fateful day.

Radicalised street children

Of the 87 suspects, Mubi said 17 juveniles, whom he referred to as radicalised street children who were arrested within Jinja city were into actual commission of crimes such as mobile phone snatching, house breaking, theft of motor vehicle number plates as they caused havoc towards party goers in the wee hours.

He said 12 male adults were in connection with aggravated robbery while 13 others were of malicious damage and obstruction including 6 women on the charges.

Meanwhile 35 male adults would be facing charges of public nuisance as well as four females.

Power outage aiding crime

On learning of the arrests, area residents hailed security for the operations but lamented of the power blackout in areas of Nakanyonyi complex, Namulesa and Kyamagwa saying this was aiding crime.

Alice Nangobi, a resident of Namulesa village in Jinja city north central, said it was now three weeks without electricity in their areas.

“We have lamented to Umeme for help but they dont respond, we are not secure with the reemergence of the panga wielding boys coupled with the blackout, this puts our lives and properties at stake,” she said.

However, Mubi said Jinja city northern division require a stand-alone police station with a commander and all the required resources under police management such as patrol vehicles to cater for areas of Bugembe, Mafubira and Budondo.

Even if Wanyange Lake territory is under Kakira Police division, Mubi said this would be policed under Jinja city northern division because it was nearer yet the crime rates remain high.

Accordingly, police has implored the Jinja city town clerk to convene a multi-sectoral meeting involving stakeholders such as local leaders, politicians, technocrats, hoteliers, bodaboda riders, religious leaders and security to discuss how to Police the area.