KAMPALA — Police have promised to block the movement of sand trucks during the night, saying some of them are aiding night robberies where stolen items are ferried.
According to police spokesman Fred Enanga, some trucks conceal stolen electronics and other equipment in sand being ferried by the trucks.
“Movement of trucks carrying sand, shall be disrupted due to our stop and search operations, following intelligence that they were facilitating burglaries and house breakings through the transportation of stolen house hold properties. The suspected stolen items like laptops, computers, Tvs, fridges etc are concealed in sand and transported,” he said.
Mr Enanga was speaking at the police headquarters on Monday, 01 March 2021 while announcing the reinforcement of curfew time.
The Directorate of Police Operations called for an intensified enforcement of the curfew across the country, as government further eases the lockdown with the expansion and re-opening with schools with semi- candidates classes across the country..
According to Enanga, the curfew must be followed strictly given that there are threats of new variants on the African Continent
“Although there’s much anxiety and lockdown fatigue, the public should be encouraged by the decrease in caseload due to the efforts from Ministry of Health. However, the rates of recoveries are still low. There are also threats of new variants on the African Continent which calls for vigilance.In addition, non-compliance to the curfew timings has allowed for crimes to start creeping back slowly; especially simple robberies, Aggravated robberies, Theft of boda bodas and murders etc,” he explained.
“Our frontline officers have been tasked to increase checks and raids to counter all violators of the curfew timings of 9pm – 6am. Most notably are bars, discotheques, concerts and related entertainment, public gatherings of not more than 200 persons. We also are targeting motorists who are not observing the load capacity of 70% especially in taxis, mini-buses and buses as well as saloon cars,” he added.
Enanga said for bodabodas, their timing of 6pm still stands. Therefore, all those riders and passengers who continue to take advantage of the curfew time, should anticipate, disruptions in their movements, he said.
“Some of the bodabodas switch off lights and ride under the cover of darkness, which places other road users, the rider and the passengers at greater risks,” he warned.
“The curfew enforcement will continue this week, with penalties for those found breaching the rules, including charging them to court under section 117 of the Penal code act, for negligent acts likely to spread an infectious disease and disobedience of lawful orders under the public health controls. We urge all Ugandans to follow the Covid-19 protocols of wearing a face mask; observe proper hygiene, social distancing and the curfew timings,” he explained.
