Soldier nabbed in rail sleeper theft
AN army officer has been detained in connection with theft of railway sleepers. Maj. Messarch Matte, attached to Magamaga Barracks in Jinja, was nabbed on Friday as he attempted to claim a uniform that was recovered in a Police operation.
By Herbert Ssempogo
AN army officer has been detained in connection with theft of railway sleepers. Maj. Messarch Matte, attached to Magamaga Barracks in Jinja, was nabbed on Friday as he attempted to claim a uniform that was recovered in a Police operation.
He has has since been transferred to the Makindye Military Police barracks, according to the Police.
“His vehicles were transporting stolen property. This brings the name of the UPDF into disrepute,†said army spokesman Maj. Felix Kulayigye.
Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said following recent reports of theft of railway material at Namukooge near Kaliro town in Busoga, detectives rushed to the scene where the suspects were loading the sleepers onto a lorry.
The Police said in a statement at the railways head office in Kampala that Matte allegedly identified his accomplices as WO II Ndolorire and Alex Chemtai.
Thugs use the cover of darkness to dig up the sleepers before selling them to iron and steel smelting factories mainly based in Jinja.
Billions of shillings are lost annually to the thieves, which prompted the Police to set up security units along the lines.
AN army officer has been detained in connection with theft of railway sleepers. Maj. Messarch Matte, attached to Magamaga Barracks in Jinja, was nabbed on Friday as he attempted to claim a uniform that was recovered in a Police operation.
He has has since been transferred to the Makindye Military Police barracks, according to the Police.
“His vehicles were transporting stolen property. This brings the name of the UPDF into disrepute,†said army spokesman Maj. Felix Kulayigye.
Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said following recent reports of theft of railway material at Namukooge near Kaliro town in Busoga, detectives rushed to the scene where the suspects were loading the sleepers onto a lorry.
The Police said in a statement at the railways head office in Kampala that Matte allegedly identified his accomplices as WO II Ndolorire and Alex Chemtai.
Thugs use the cover of darkness to dig up the sleepers before selling them to iron and steel smelting factories mainly based in Jinja.
Billions of shillings are lost annually to the thieves, which prompted the Police to set up security units along the lines.