13 September 2009

At least 550 people have so far been arrested in connection to the riots that have, for three days, affected business in Kampala city and claimed 14 lives, police announced yesterday.

Police also warned that the arrest the hunt for the ring leaders was still ongoing.

"I can tell you that we are still arresting, this is not all, we are going to arrest more," the Inspector General of Police Gen. Kale Kayihura told journalist yesterday at the CID headquarters in Kampala, adding that 83 of the suspects have been charged in court.

The Police chief also said that the rioters had retreated to the suburbs describing the mayhem as pre-planned by ill intentioned and malicious characters.

"There has been orchestrated violence and lawlessness in the suburbs of Kampala this (Saturday) morning; surburbs like Nateete,Kyengera,Kamwokya and Kireka have experienced sporadic incidents of hooliganism and brief episodes of disturbances,"Mr Kayihura said.

Although he did not name who had organized the thugs into rioting, Mr Kayihura said the rioters targeted security personnel on patrol.

He also disclosed that 82 victims including 13 police officers were being treated for injuries in various hospitals.

The police also paraded 11 suspects who reportedly torched down Nateete police station. The hunt for other suspects was still on by last evening.

The IGP also refuted reports that the Kabaka had been put under house arrest, saying as police they have no intention to place the Kabaka of Buganda under any kind of arrests.

Following the deaths and incidence of excessive use of force by the security agencies, Mr Kayihura ordered no more use of teargas and live bullets against the rioters.

"I don't want to hear cases of live bullets or excessive force, just arrest those causing chaos but do not use excessive for because there is no need now," he told journalists.

He also castigated the way Mr Robert Sserumaga was arrested, saying he will be given police bond as the investigations go on. He also promised to investigate incidence where journalists have been beaten and tortured while covering the riot.

Meanwhile Mr Sserumaga, a senior journalist who was picked after a TV talk show on Friday night, was last evening taken to Kampala Central police station to record a statement after spending a night in unknown location.

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