Police says at least 4,649 people were arrested during countrywide New Year celebrations to usher in 2024. The suspects include; 4,039 male adults, 242 female adults, 68 male juveniles, three female juveniles, and 297 suspects not specified. They are still undergoing screening. Fred Enanga the police spokesman says the New year’s celebrations were largely peaceful […]
Police says at least 4,649 people were arrested during countrywide New Year celebrations to usher in 2024.
The suspects include; 4,039 male adults, 242 female adults, 68 male juveniles, three female juveniles, and 297 suspects not specified. They are still undergoing screening.
Fred Enanga the police spokesman says the New year’s celebrations were largely peaceful except for pockets of petty crime witnessed across the country.
According to the crime report released at the police headquarters on Monday, Kampala metropolitan area registered 1100 cases. This includes parts of Kampala City, Wakiso, Mukono and Mpigi districts.
Enanga explains that majority of the suspects are in custody for mostly petty offenses like snatching, pickpocketing, and assault. The majority of the culprits were nabbed at the midnight hour from various entertainment sports and places of worship.
He attributes a smooth crossover to vigilance and robust security deployment by security operatives ahead of celebrations.
“Generally we had peaceful New Year’s Day celebrations because we did not register terrible security incidents such as ADF attacks like it happened in Kamwenge. This was due to robust security deployment and collaboration with the locals providing information,” Enanga said.
Notable among the offences is a dramatic incident at the Enkuka Yo’Mwaka festival held at the Lubiri Grounds, that took joint efforts of both police and military to arrest an errant reveler who pepper sprayed a police officer close to the performance stage.
The area had deployed over 300 Field Force Unit (FFU) police, general duty police, and traffic police accompanied by covert and overt intelligence personnel.
Enanga says other suspects were netted at a jammed up concert by musician Allien Skin at Wankulukuku stadium. Other thugs were arrested at Old Kampala playground, Sheraton, and Serena hotels including Kyambogo.
