By KT Reporter
At least 35 suspects out of 44 arrested for stealing items belonging to excited supporters of President Yoweri Museveni during nomination have been pinned by closed circuit television cameras and covert security personnel.
Thousands of people including the youth, and aged thronged Kololo ceremonial grounds on Tuesday to celebrate President Museveni’s nomination as National Resistance Movement -NRM candidate for the 2016 presidential elections.
However, thugs who also donned T-shirts of NRM party colour with Museveni’s image walked among the unsuspecting supporters and snatched wallets, mobile phones, watches and other items. However, they did know that among the people donned in the t-shirts were covert security personnel who grabbed them stealing while others were traced using CCTV cameras.
At the end of the day, 44 suspected were grabbed and detained at Jinja Road police station. Nonetheless, the review of CCTV cameras and with the help of covert security personnel, nine suspects have been set free while the 35 others are waiting to appear in courts of law.
Patrick Onyango, the Kampala metropolitan police spokesperson, confirmed that 35 suspects who have been zeroed on and will face charges ranging from theft, simple robbery, assault and public nuisance. Onyango has warned criminal minded people hoping to take advantage of the coming rallies to steal from the members of public to avoid being tempted.
“We know campaigns are kicking off next week and they often attract crowds,” Onyango said. “We also know that criminals often take advantage of such rallies to commit their crimes such as theft, phone snatching and others. We want to warn them that we are also prepared to apprehend them.”
The two days presidential nomination exercise had eight candidates nominated to run for president for the 2026-2031 term. On the first day, President Museveni was nominated first, followed by Robert Kasibante of National Peasants Party (NPP) and later on Elton Joseph Mabirizi, running on Consevative Party (CP).
On the second day, five candidates were nominated starting with Nathan James Nandala Mafabi, running on FDC ticket, Mugisha Gregory Muntu Oyera, on ANT ticket, Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, on NUP ticket, Mubarak Munyagwa, on CMP ticket and Kabanga Bulira for Revolutionary People’s Party.
The EC has today held a campaign harmonization meeting with the candidates’ agents to approve schedules for rallies starting Monday next week. Police say those arrested on day 2 of the nomination have mostly been released on bond.
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