Police has reported a rise in cases of criminality in the Greater Masaka region, including a reemergence of the infamous death threatening leaflets that terrorized parts of Masaka earlier this year.
Some people were killed in April and several others injured in the spate of night attacks in parts of Bukomansimbi, Kalungu, Lwengo and Masaka districts after flyers with death threats were dropped by criminals.
Similar leaflets have recently been dropped in Lwengo, Sembabule and Masaka districts by unknown criminals, Police Spokesperson SSP Emilian Kayima said on Monday. Thugs write names of their targets on these leaflets alerting them that they will be murdered.
This criminal activity comes at the heels of an upward trend of car registration plates theft and other incidences of theft in Greater Masaka.
Kayima said that police has stepped up its operations particularly in Nyendo, which has resulted into the arrest of 152 people who are suspected to have been involved in robberies, theft and drug abuse in the region. The suspects are currently being detained at Masaka Central Police Station.
“Majority of these people are young people who live in residences that are questionable. Many of them use drugs, smoke while others waste time in sports betting,” SSP Kayima said.
“We are currently screening them before preferring charges against them,” he told the press on Monday.
He attributed the rise of criminality in Masaka to youths who have no source of income yet they want to spend.
Kayima urged members of the public to mark their property as a safety measure but to also report such thefts to the police and record statements.
In regards to the theft of car registration plates, he cautioned victims againt giving in to the monetary demands of the thieves.
“They [thieves] pluck off number plates at night and drop their telephone contacts. When contacted, they then ask for money in exchange for the number plate,” Kayima said.
“Don’t give them the money otherwise you will encourage this crime. Instead get their telephone number and we shall track them”.
He said that this kind of criminality had previously hit Kampala and several people were prosecuted.