The UPDF and police have been deployed in Busia town to back municipal enforcement teams after a law enforcement officer was stabbed to death by a hawker last week.
Tusker Ofubo, alias Master, was stabbed multiple times Friday along Tororo Road while on routine revenue mobilisation. The hawker reportedly attacked him with a knife, accusing him of impounding his mobile phone chargers sold on the street.
On Monday, enforcement teams reinforced by soldiers and police launched trade order operations starting at Mawero roadside market before spreading to Nangwe shops and Arubaine.
Head of enforcement George Wandera said deployment followed Ofubo’s killing.
“We have realised that some people operating in non-gazetted spaces are armed, which is why we have been reinforced by army,” Wandera told Daily Monitor.
Close to 20 people, mostly women in small roadside businesses, were arrested and merchandise impounded.
“We have arrested several people, among them women. We shall be arraigning them in court on various charges,” Wandera said.
Some of those arrested denied hawking.
Juliet Atieno, resident of Arubaine, said: “Security personnel arrested me from my home despite not being involved in roadside business.”
Beatrice Nafula said: “I had gone to have breakfast at a tea stall when army and police rounded me up. The owner of the tea stall fled after seeing security personnel approaching, but they arrested me instead.”
Residents were divided.
Swaliki Kalekawo of Mawero said: “The impounded goods belong to women who are servicing bank loans. Taking away their merchandise denies them their very means of survival.”
Trader Sulaiman Benjura welcomed deployment: “Master was stabbed last week while on duty, so deploying army and police to protect law enforcement officers is good move.”
He added: “Some people had expected killing of Master to discourage enforcement officers from implementing trade order, but continued operations have demonstrated otherwise.”
Suspects are held at Busia Police Station awaiting court.