At least 20 suspects are in police custody on various charges following their arrest at different rallies held by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate, Yoweri Museveni in Busoga Sub-region.
According to police, the suspects, mainly youth, were arrested in Bugiri, Bugweri, and Namutumba districts, where President Museveni started his campaign trail in eastern Uganda sub-region.
‘We have close to twenty suspects in our custody who are involved in numerous crimes in the three districts where president Museveni has had rallies,” Mr Michael Kasadha, the Busoga East police spokesperson confirmed.
Mr Kasadha disclosed that 11 suspects, including those with sharp knives were arrested in Bugiri District, six from Namutumba and three from Bugweri.
He said some suspects were arrested for allegedly snatching people’s mobile phones, pocketing money and others holding marijwana in their pockets among other crimes.
Mr Kasadha advised all those intending to take advantage of crowds to commit offences to stop as President Museveni, 81, continues with his campaign rallies in the region as he seeks to extend his leadership beyond four decades.
Meanwhile, in Kaliro District where President Museveni is scheduled for a rally, schools have been banned from taking students to the rally venue in Bulumba town council.
The Kaliro Assistant Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Mr Rogers Kiduma confirmed the development.
According to Mr Kiduma, this followed complaints that in some areas, the rallies were attended by learners ferried from around the areas where Mr Museveni held rallies.
‘For us in Kaliro, we want to disprove the rumours that the big crowds the president has been having had students ferried from schools. This is why we refused to grant permission to all head teachers who had written requests,” Mr Kiduma said.
The head teacher of Namugongo Seed Secondary School, Mr John Bwire Wasukira expressed disappointment towards the failure by the office of RDC to give him permission to ferry students to Mr Museveni’s rally.
‘I am particularly not happy with the RDC’s office for denying my students a chance to attend the rally,” Mr Wasukira said.
According to Mr Wasukira, the purpose of ferrying learners to the rally was for them to appreciate President Museveni’s efforts in extending free education to them by constructing the Seed School.