Security agencies have arrested 11 people suspected to have been behind the throwing of petrol bombs at motorists stuck in jam and government vehicles parked at public places.

The suspects, according to Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga, were arrested on May 11th, a day before President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s swearing in for his sixth elective term.

A number of petrol bomb incidents were registered in Kampala City, Wakiso and Jinja in the past few weeks. Enanga said these were acts intended to cause panic and fear among the public as the country prepared to swear in the president.

Last week Uganda Radio Network (URN) reported that Special Forces Command –SFC which protects the president and other key public figures including government installations had taken over the hunt for the petrol bomb culprits.

Enanga says the suspects are being will be charged with terrorism because their plan was to interfere with the swearing in ceremony of duly elected president but also to cause fear and panic among members of the public.

“We have 11 suspects who we are processing on charges of terrorism. These were actively involved in attacking motorists in jam and vehicles government premises. They made some attempts on petrol stations. Their actions are not only life threatening but had a potential of causing panic and fear against the public,” said Enanga.

Last week petrol bombs were thrown at a government vehicle parked at Uganda Registration Services Bureau –URSB at Georgina Street in Kampala, two petrol bombs were thrown at Katwe police station and another was thrown at a government vehicle that was being driven by former Jinja RDC Eric Sakwa in Nakulabye.

Earlier, cars had been damaged with petrol bombs at Kireka near the railway crossing, petrol bombs were also thrown at drivers in Wakaliga Nateete in April by masked men on motorcycles where two cars were damaged.

Others were petrol bombs were thrown at petrol stations in March this year. A fuel pump at Prime Petro Station at Gayaza township was burn at around 1am. The attackers threw a jerrycan of suspected petrol and the pump caught fire but it was later contained before reducing the entire premises to ashes.

The Lorris Petrol Station at Sekanyonyi was also attacked in March at around 1:30am when a group of three men approached the fuel pump with a 10 litre jerrycan, under the guise of fetching fuel. Security said the suspects hurriedly poured petrol near the fuel pump and lit the station but the fire was also contained by the guards and night attendants.

Police said the suspects’ names will not be revealed now because they want to first arrest their colleagues who on Saturday night attempted to burn Kasubi royal tombs.

—————————

By: URN