The Uganda Police, along with sister security agencies, currently holds over 200 individuals in custody. These individuals were arrested during a late-night patrol conducted in Soroti City.
According to a police source, the operations were informed by several incidences of criminality that reportedly cropped up in December.
Frank Ntankovu, the officer in charge of the Criminal Investigations in the East Kyoga Region, says that the operations are intelligence-led, targeting lawbreakers and persons suspected of planning and conducting criminal acts like theft and pickpocketing.
He says that some of the suspects have been on the wanted list of criminals by the security agencies in Soroti City. Ntankovu adds that some of the suspects were found with breaking objects, government stores, and stolen property.
Damalie Nachuha, the East Kyoga Regional Police Commander says that some of the suspects have been produced before court on cases of possession of army stores, stolen property, and smoking opium. She added that the operation will spread to other policing units in the region to enable people to celebrate the Christmas festive season in peace.
According to Nachuha, some people have been living in the city without any clear identity, business, or places of aboard.
Last week, a 17-year-old girl, Elizabeth Asalo, was killed in Agirigiroi- Arapai Sub County in Soroti district for unknown reasons.
The Soroti Resident City Commissioner, Peter Pex Paak urges the community to remain vigilant and coordinate with the security personnel to get rid of wrong elements.
According to Paak, there are wrong elements in the community who disguise themselves as mad people while others are masquerading as hawkers or persons living with disabilities.
