By Weswa Ronnie
BUSIA
Police has arrested four vandals for theft of electric pole and wires while masquerading as Umeme Staff in Busia district.
According IP Johnson Moses Mugwe, the Bukedi South Region Police Spokesperson, the four were arrested on Monday, 27th May, 2024 after a public alert at about 2:00PM in Dabani “B” Dabani Parish, Dabani Sub County in Busia District.
He identifies the suspects as Masifa Robert, 47 years, a Gishu by tribe and a casual labourer residing at Buchicha village Busia District, Wanyama Ivan, 34 years, a Munyoro by tribe also a casual labourer residing at Mawero village, Busia District.
The ringleaders who also happen to be Electricians are; Muwanguzi George William, 25 year old Muganda and resident of Solo village, Busia District and Ofiti George, 32 year old Gishu and resident of Nangwe village, Busia District.
It’s alleged that on the 27th/05/2024 at around 1400hrs one Ofiti George, Wanyama Ivan, Muwanguzi George and Masifa Robert went to Dabani “B” village and started vandalizing umeme electric line and pole support wires.
The four suspects appeared at the scene while dressed in Umeme uniform, claiming to be employees of Umeme and while at the scene, they were noticed and approached by local authorities, who interviewed them through the Chairperson LC1, one Twaha Munobi and other local residents.
This intervention by the local authorities was to establish whether the 04 suspects had been sent by Umeme to remove the electric pole and the attached wires, however, during the interrogation, the four had nothing to say about their activity in the area and couldn’t identify themselves.
That prompted the Chairperson LC1 to inform Mr, Mudangah Emmanuel, the Umeme Network Technical Officer who later informed Busia Police and a team was immediately dispatched to the Crime Scene who arrested the four suspects with the key exhibits.
They have been charged with interference with public Works C/S 85 (a) of the ERA ACT VIDE BUSIA CRB: 527/2024.
The suspects had a duplicated Umeme uniform.
