By Zalimon Basighalha (Goodluck)
People who own houses in Kizungu Cell of Nyamwamba Division in Kasese Municipality have been directed to register their tenants with the relevant authorities or else risk to be arrested and prosecuted in the courts of law.
The directive comes just one day after the area Local Council One authorities launched an operation aimed at cracking down the habitants for the suspected criminals who terrorize the area as well as arresting them.
During the operation that was conducted yesterday, at least three families suspected of harboring criminals were ordered to vacate the area with immediate effect. The operation followed complaints from neighbors who accused the suspects of terrorizing their locality.
The neighbors also accused the suspects of stealing some people’s property including mobile phones and T.V screens among others and then hide them in their rented rooms.
When our reporter visited the area, he discovered that two of the three suspected families whose names have been withheld from the press had left their rented rooms in fulfillment of the directive from the L.C I authorities.
But while speaking to our reporter at his office, Mr. Fenahasi Wakibanahe, the L. C I Chairperson for Kizungu Cell explained that his office has also issued a directive to the house owners to register all their tenants as a way of reducing the rate of criminality in his area of jurisdiction and failure of which would lead to an automatic arrest and subsequent prosecution in the courts of law.
He also revealed that his office in collaboration with police at Kizungu Police Post has launched manhunt for some of the suspects who were not found at their homes by the time of the operation but they decided to evict their families.
According to Wakibanahe, during the operation, they were led to the homes of the suspects by a minor aged 12 who had been caught red- handed by a private security guard having stolen phones and T. V screens from Kikonzo Cell, Railway Ward in the Central Division.
He explained that though they did not arrest anyone during the operation, they would continue mounting more of the same until the suspects are apprehended so that the law takes its course for the safety of the residents.
He linked the suspects to the allegedly newly formed criminal gang in Kasese town commonly known as GAZA Boys’ Group which is terrorizing many cells and wards in Kasese town by waylaying people’s phones and bags during evening and night hours.
However, the Community Liaison’s Officer for the Rwenzori East Policing Region, SP Luke Mbusa says security personnel are working around the clock to establish the reason why the number of criminals is high in Nyamwamba Division, Kasese Divisional Policing area.
ENDS