Teargas as police arrest gamblers

Police officers led by the Sironko DPC, Mr Wilfred Bagenda (right), inspect Budadiri Town Council after dispersing residents involved in gambling on Monday. PHOTO BY YAHUDU KITUNZI

Sironko.

More than 50 people were arrested in Sironko District as police fired gunshots and teargas as it battled residents of Budadiri Town Council suspected of drinking alcohol and gambling during morning hours.

The district police commander, Mr Wilfred Bagenda, and the Resident District Commissioner, Mr Moses Kigai, led operation which also targeted narcotic drugs dealers on Monday.

As police descended on Kisenyi in Budadiri Town Council, a section of youth resisted arrest and started pelting stones at policemen, prompting security personnel to fire bullets in the air and detonate tear gas canisters. Traders were forced to close their shops and restaurants.

Mr Bagenda told journalists that there has been a public outcry on increasing cases of robbery which is attributed to people drinking and gambling during working hours in rural areas.

“We decided to carry out this operation in order to weed out some criminals in the district who have been terrorising residents and hiding in drinking joints early in the morning and at night they terrorise residents,” he said.
Mr Kigai said people in the area start gambling and smoking other narcotic drugs as early as 7am.

“We also arrested some people who grow and consume marijuana in the area. Most of our people, especially youth are using marijuana,” the RDC said.
Mr Kigai said the operation would continue throughout this month.
This is the second time in two weeks that Mr Kigai is carrying out the operation. In the last operation, more than 450 people were arrested.

RDC speaks

“This government has good programmes to fight poverty at households but our people start drinking as early as 7am and this will not help in the fight against poverty. People need to work as the only means of fighting poverty,” Moses Kigai, Resident District Commissioner