Police in Mityana has busted a racket of 17 suspects for vandalism and theft of electricity equipment.
The suspects were arrested in a joint security operation by police, military, and Umeme officials in Gomba and Mityana Districts.
They are currently detained at Wamala Region Police headquarters in Mityana awaiting their appearance in the courts of law.
Rachael Kawala, the Wamala Region Police Spokesperson says that 14 of the suspects were arrested at a local Guesthouse in Mityana Town with stolen electricity equipment.
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Among the recovered equipment are 20 Stayrodes, conductor wires, stay wires, 10 Umeme overcoats, and 18 stay insulators.
Other items recovered were 20 Turn tackles, 1 safety boot and 1 disconnection book, a CIU (Yaka Meter), a single cabin pick-up vehicle, and other equipment, all belonging to the power distributor, UMEME.
The arrest of the 17 brings to 25 the number of suspects arrested in connection with alleged vandalism of electricity infrastructure in 3 operations in the districts of Mityana, Kassanda, Mubende, Kiboga, Kyankwanzi, Gomba, Nakaseke, Kakumiro, and Butambala.
According to Umeme, vandalism of electric installations has cost the company 3.6 Billion Shillings since the beginning of the year.