President Museveni’s swearing in ceremony at Kololo Independence Grounds on Thursday left 160 people behind bars.
Mr Patrick Onyango, the Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson, said the suspects were arrested pickpocketing folks who had gathered to witness Mr Museveni’s swearing in for the fifth elective term.
“We arrested these people snatching items such as phones and wallets.They were arrested by our uniformed and plain-clothed security personnel,” Mr Onyango said.
Mr Onyango said majority of the suspects were teenagers suspected to be members of infamous criminal gang, Kifesi that terrorises people in the rough hours of morning and evening.
He said the number was likely to increase since other suspects were being detained at different police station in addition to the operation that was ongoing.
“This was a magnificent function that attracted people from all walks of life.Some people go to such events with different motives. We expected such characters to appear and we planned ahead,” Mr Onyango said.
However, Mr Onyango said the suspects would be screened since some could have been arrested due to their appearance or being adjacent to criminal elements.
The function, according to Mr Onyango was generally peaceful, given proper preparation and planning ahead by security forces.
“The event was generally peaceful. We did not register serious crimes apart from simple robberies; of mobile phones and loss of identify cards. We thank the public for being peaceful,” Mr Onyango said.
While addressing the media on Monday, Gen Kale Kayihura, the Inspector General of Police, warned that security agencies were more than ready to crush anyone who would engage in violent and criminal activities prior and during Mr Museveni’s swearing in.
Gen Kayihura’s pledge was indeed fulfilled when several opposition leaders were put under house arrest while others including former FDC presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye, were detained on the eve of the ceremony.
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