At least 137 suspected criminals spent Sunday night in different police cells in Jinja following a joint security operation led by the Kiira regional police commander, Richard Okullu in Bugembe ward in Jinja City Northern division.
The operation also led to the arrest of Alex Mugabi, the LC I chairperson of Kalina zone for allegedly attempting to hide suspected criminals in his house and obstructing security personnel on duty.
The operation targeted Kamwanyi zone, Budhumbuli, Kalina zone, Wanyama, and Wanyange. It led to the arrest of 198 suspects.
However, 61 people were released with caution after the screening exercise. The Kiira Region police spokesperson, James Mubi says that the operation was prompted by endless complaints from residents about the increasing number of criminal gangs within their community.
Mubi says that the operations focused on blackspots where suspected criminals hide after robbing valuables from their unsuspecting victims in different parts of Jinja city.
Mubi warned politicians against protecting criminal-minded individuals.
A section of residents stormed Bugembe police station where the suspects were being screened and accused security personnel of using brutality in the course of executing their operation.
Damalie Nabirye, a resident of Wanyange lake cell says that security personnel surrounded their trading center and pepper sprayed her husband before bundling him up in their pickup vehicle.
Christine Kwagala, a resident of Kamwanyi zone says that her son was repairing the neighbor’s house when security personnel arrested him from the construction site.
Kwagala says that she attempted to plead for the son’s innocence before the commanding police officer but her prayers landed on deaf ears.
Mubi says their operations were intelligence-led and dismissed claims of brutality leveled against security personnel.