By Alex Baluku
Police in Kasese has come under criticism for releasing a driver attached to Kasese Municipal Council who was arrested on allegations of stealing building materials for the administration block.
Dionysius Nyakairwa was on Sunday 2nd Jan 2022 arrested in the connection with the theft of building materials commonly known as mark spans for the administration block.
Nyakairwa was arrested from the office of the Town Clerk on allegations that the truck that assigned to him was allegedly seen transporting the materials from the construction site and that evening police was seen storming the office of the Town Clerk and subsequently picked the suspect and took him to Kasese Central Police Station to record a statement about the matter.
Upon reaching the police station, the suspect consented to have participated in the stealing of the building materials and quickly said that behind him was another strong. However, the following day the suspect was released on police bond.
Now, Members of the Kasese Municipal Development Forum-MDF have tasked Police to explain the circumstances under which Nyakairwa was released even after he had pleaded guilty.
Municipal Development Forums-MDFs are established at the Municipal level for all stakeholders in the urban sector including the urban poor, local government, service providers, private sector and other stakeholders to meet regularly to exchange views, debate priorities and agree on common actions on matters concerning the urban sector for improved service delivery. They are among other roles mandated to facilitate access to information with an aim to improving the performance of the urban sector in order to ensure sustainable urban development.
Addressing the media at Verina gardens in Kasese Municipality on Wednesday, the Forum’s President Mr. Farouk Kibaba blamed the police for what he called the force’s rush into releasing the prime suspected thief of the building materials intended for the completion of the now stalled Municipal Administration block.
Kibaba wonders whether the action by police was ethical and protective to a suspect who had already confessed how some senior officials at the Municipal Council were behind the archaic act.
The outspoken President has since called on police to act swiftly and re-arrest the culprit. Kibaba who expressed disappoint over some civil servants who have allegedly been mentioned for their involvement in the act asked the Municipal leadership to come up with a clear statement on how far they have gone with investigations on issues related to theft of building materials for the administration block.
He said that the Forum was going to work hard with the leaders to ensure that they recover all the stolen items for the good and development of the urban center and challenged the public to be more vigilant in monitoring government programs and reaffirmed that they will check, evaluate and monitor all government projects according to their mandate.
Godfrey Kiwede, the Forum’s Secretary said it would be better for the Municipal leadership to give an accountability and quantity of the stolen items for the accused persons to pay them back.
“The Mayor and Town Clerk should make public their statements whether the construction materials have been returned or whether the culprits will be interdicted” Kiwede added
While speaking to our reporter, ASP Ismail Kaawo, the acting Rwenzori East Police spokesperson confirmed that they had arrested Nyakairwa in connection with the incident and was later given bond as they continue with the investigation adding that there is no stake holding in crime.
Isaiah Tumwesigye, the Kasese Municipal Town Clerk said that they are doing everything possible within the law to ensure that the culprits are brought to book and ensure that they recover the materials that were stolen.
6 comments
Weldone Kibaba and the group.
Thanks for keeping me updated as tho the municipal leaders are lagging the municipality behind thus leading to no development
I would be surprised if the Uganda Police in Kasese wouldn’t do exactly that. It is a disgrace to government the way Kasese Police is behaving. Instead of apprehending such thieves, you will find them grabbing struggling young men’s roasted chicken and meat in the evenings disguising to be enforcing curfew. Shame on them
Thanks for the update your doing create job
Great job
Thank you Alex and Godfrey for the updates on issues of concern in district, especially the local news, that keeps everyone informed of the currentt news