MP arrested over vandalism

By Dennis Ojwee

The MP for Toroma County in Katakwi district, Cyrus Amodoi Imalingat, is being held by the  Police over vandalism.

It is said that the MP, a retired soldier, was arrested on Saturday with two others as they tried to dig up parts of Awere bridge in Pader district in search of mercury.

The Police said Amodoi and his accomplices on Friday night fled the scene during hot pursuit by the Police amidst gunfire. He was arrested in Pader on Saturday at Rackoko, 12km east of the bridge.

The regional Police commander (northern), Paul Nkore, identified the other suspects as Abib Bagaza and Samuel Anusu.

Nkore disclosed that the trio dug up the eastern part of the bridge and poured an unknown liquid into the hole they had dug up.

Pader district Police commander Ambrose Sabiti said the suspects abandoned their tools, including axes and drills, which the Police have seized.

He made it clear that the Criminal Investigations Department will soon finalise investigations into the case under file number 175/2013 and SD 04/30/2013 at Rackoko Police post.

Awere bridge is located 72km on the Gulu-Moroto highway.

The 15-metre bridge was constructed during the British colonial rule after the Owen falls dam in Jinja was built. But it is yet to be established whether there is any mercury under the bridge.