226 suspects arrested in Kampala on New Year’s Day

226 suspects arrested in Kampala on New Year's Day
Uganda Police Force on patrol

Kampala, Uganda | URN | A total of five deaths were registered on the first day of 2020 in Kampala city according to a police report. Also registered, was one case of kidnap of Sabila Bugembe a resident of Naalya, a Kampala suburb and a fire outbreak at the residence of Justine Nakazzi in Mulago II Parish in which several properties were razed to ashes.

Police say at least 226 people were arrested in connection to criminal activities including pickpocketing and waylaying revelers during the New Year’s Day celebrations in various parts of Kampala city on January 1, 2020.

Among the dead, was a suspected criminal shot dead in Nakulabye during arrest by Local Defence Unit (LDU) personnel. Another suspect was also killed from Lower Nsooba in Kyebando, as he also reportedly tried to resist arrest, while two people identified as Caroline Lenya and Mbogo Abdu were injured by stray bullets. LDUs were recently given shoot-to-kill orders by the army leadership.

According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango, the city had a peaceful crossover, save for isolated cases in which lives were lost.

Apart from the two suspected thugs who were shot dead by LDU personnel, one other death recorded was that of businesswoman Grace Nakalezi who was waylaid and attacked by unknown people, as she returned to her home in Kajjansi. She was found lying dead on Tuesday 31st, December 2019 morning with several injuries on the body and deep cuts on the leg.

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Another death was reported by a one Pastor Hassan Sekyanzi who found a body dumped on his veranda has he returned home from crossover night prayers. He says that the police assessed the scene and found that the person, whose identities are still unknown was killed from elsewhere and the body dumped at the pastor’s home.

The other was a hit and run accident where Frank Bamuhiarwe a Boda-boda rider was knocked dead by an unknown person. Police say they will review footage of the area and see how to capture the hit and run driver.