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@observer Mon, 18 Nov 2024 05:25:40

Mbale High School student found with police uniform arrested

An 18-year-old student from Mbale High Secondary School, Moses Kaseti, has been arrested for illegally possessing a Uganda police uniform, which he allegedly used to impersonate a police officer and commit robberies. Kaseti was apprehended alongside 19-year-old Muhamed Kabuko, reportedly a student from another school, during a security operation led by Yahaya Were, the deputy resident city commissioner (RCC) for Mbale City Northern Division. The crackdown was launched in response to public outcry over a spike in criminal activities, including theft, robbery, rape, and phone snatching in areas such as Nkoma, Namakwekwe, and Central Town. The operation follows an incident last week where a student stabbed a teacher, Kassim Magombe of Mbale SS, for allegedly disciplining him. According to Were, the security team carried out a comprehensive sweep of schools and surrounding areas, leading to the arrests. However, several accomplices managed to evade capture. Were disclosed that Kaseti had allegedly obtained the police uniform from his father in Mukono and had been using it to impersonate a police officer. During the operation, security personnel recovered various weapons, including knives, iron bars, as well as opium and marijuana. Rogers Taitika, the Elgon Region police spokesperson, confirmed the arrests and revealed that the suspects are being held at Mbale Central Police Station as investigations continue. Efforts to reach Moses Wambalo, the head teacher of Mbale High Secondary School, for comment, were unsuccessful as his phone numbers were switched off. {loadposition inarticle}

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@observer Mon, 18 Nov 2024 05:49:55

Mityana residents question police account of deadly Friday shooting

Residents of Kabira, Mityana district, have raised doubts about the police’s explanation of how Isaac Sendawula, a suspect in custody, allegedly stole a firearm and used it to kill David Sserwadda, the man who had reported him to the authorities. Sendawula, who had been detained for two days at Kabira police post following assault charges filed by Sserwadda, reportedly shot and killed his accuser last Friday. The two men were known to have a history of enmity, though the exact cause of their disputes remained unclear. Locals speculated that their animosity might have stemmed from land conflicts or allegations of infidelity, but no concrete details were ever confirmed. Police claim that Sendawula managed to steal a firearm from an officer at the station before carrying out the killing. However, this explanation has been met with scepticism by Kabira residents, who suspect possible collusion between the suspect and some police personnel. Chrysostom Kizito, a resident, expressed disbelief, questioning how a suspect could steal a gun under police watch. "I find this explanation not convincing," he said. "We are wondering whether Isaac learned shooting from the police officers who then gave him the gun, or he already knew how to use it." David Sendawula, another resident, echoed similar concerns, raising doubts about how Sendawula could have learned to use the firearm so effectively. Kabira Police Post, where Sendawula was detained, is a small facility typically manned by one to three officers. Kizito speculated that the suspect might have taken advantage of a lone officer on duty to steal the weapon and kill Sserwadda, who was a crime preventer known for his cooperation with law enforcement. Wamala Regional police spokesperson, SP Racheal Kawala, acknowledged the community’s concerns and assured the public that investigations were underway to determine how Sendawula gained access to the firearm. She confirmed that murder charges had been added to his initial assault charges. {loadposition inarticle}

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