MBALE – Residents of Mbale City, Industrial Division are decrying the escalation crime rate in their area, following a series of attacks by unknown assailants.
According to some of the victims of such attacks, crime is rife, especially in the dark streets of Nabuyonga Rise, Pallisa road, and Bugwere road.
Rashid Muhana, a resident of Bugwere cell, narrated that unknown assailants had recently attacked, hacking him with a machete before making off with his phones.
Abdalla Saiga, a resident of Nakaloke cell told of a story of how he was attacked at Bugwere road as he headed home after work as early as around 7:30 pm.
Ibra Mukisa was unlucky when two thugs riding on a motorcycle confronted him around Mbale City Stadium near the Pallisa road, junction.
Micheal Gimono – a boda boda rider described the areas as impassable beyond 7:00pm, due to darkness that harbours thugs.
“You only pass through these black spots during day time,” concluded Gimono.
Moses Busayi, the chairperson of Bugwere cell confirmed that thugs had advanced criminal acts, easing the movement on motorcycles, adding that crime in this particular area had more than doubled in the last three months.
Rodgers Taitika -the Elgon Region Police mouthpiece, confirmed that security was aware of acts of insecurity in different parts of the city, and were responding, accordingly, arresting some suspects.
“We are much aware and the night patrols are in place to maintain the state of security in the city,” he said.
In October, more than 70 suspected criminals were rounded-up in a joint security swoop in Mbale City.
The suspects were picked from the areas of Half London, Mooni, Senior quarters, and Nkonkonjeru by a joint security operation including the police and UPDF.
Additional reporting by URN
