45 arrested at Nyege-Nyege festival over criminality
- Written by URN
A security officer at Nyege Nyege festival
35 suspects were arrested at the recently concluded Nyege-Nyege festival that was held in Jinja city according to police.
The suspects were screened and are currently being held at Nalufenya police station in Jinja, awaiting further prosecution in the courts of law. In a statement released by Kiira regional police, 45 suspects were arrested on November 10 and 11. After screening, 10 of the suspects who committed minor crimes were simply cautioned and released.
According to the police, after the screening, 20 cases were categorized as theft of mobile phones, three cases of impersonating police officers, three cases of being in possession of opium, 12 cases of forging entry tickets, and one case of stealing from a motor vehicle.
Kiira regional police spokesperson, James Mubi, argues that the festivities were held at three major venues; the source of River Nile, Agricultural Showgrounds, and the golf course.
He notes that criminal-minded elements took advantage of minor security loopholes to create havoc, but most of them were arrested. Mubi mentions that joint forces of police and the army were widely deployed in the festival venue and its borderlines to safeguard revelers and their property.
Minimal incidents were registered compared to last year's incidents, which numbered over 86 cases. Mubi warned the general public to stay alert, as some individuals are constantly scheming to grab valuables during the ongoing festivities, including the upcoming royal wedding, Christmas, and New Year's Eve.
Meanwhile, Busoga kingdom's premier, Hellen Namutumba, commended revelers for their vigilance and constant communication with security operatives to avert any form of diverse insecurity, amidst terror alerts from superpower countries.