85 arrested at Martyrs day celebrations

Jun 03, 2012

Eighty five 'criminals' were arrested at the Uganda martyrs shrine in Namugongo on Sunday.

By Steven Candia and Simon Masaba                       

Eighty five suspected criminals were arrested at the Uganda martyrs shrine in Namugongo on Sunday as police described the annual event as largely peaceful.
Of the 85 arrested, four were suspected car thieves while forty were arrested in connection with pick pocketing and 30 for allegedly being high on beer and causing disorder. Six were arrested for fighting and one in connection with rape.
Of the four suspected car thieves, two were allegedly arrested while breaking into vehicles parked near the shrine while the other two were reportedly arrested with a sack full of suspected stolen vehicle head lamps.
The suspected car thieves together with other suspects were detained at the nearby Kira police division. "Those breaking into cars were arrested in the night by police on patrol," Ibin Ssenkumbi the deputy Kampala Police spokesperson said yesterday.
Also arrested were 16 Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) youth. They were arrested in front of the Catholic shrine as they allegedly distributed flyers to the congregation.
"The flyers had potential to cause confusion," Ssenkumbi said. By press time yesterday the identity of the youth had not been established though they were also being held at Kira police station. 
Deputy police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said the event was largely peaceful. "Apart from the arrests, the function was generally peaceful," Nabakooba said.
"They will have to undergo screening before they are taken to court," Nabakooba said and attributed the peaceful nature of the celebrations to vigilance of the people and heightened security at the venue and generally.
"The people were conscious about their security and the police officers on the ground were very alert," she said. This time round security at the venue was heightened to unprecedented levels with police on helicopter constantly hovering over the place.

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