By Davis Mugabi

The number of suspects in the recent rebel activities targeting police installations and officers in Wamala Policing Region have grown to 29.

According to security, the rebel group named Uganda Coalition for Change (UCFC) has had 21 of their members arrested, putting the total number so far arrested at 29.

Police spokesman Fred Enanga says that the additional 21 suspects arrested within the axis of Kiboga, Mityana and Kassanda, also attended training in weapons and military drills at the UCFC rebel camps in Wabunyira and Kikandwa villages.

Security say that the group has so far carried out 3 attacks in Wakiso, Busunju and Kiboga and that the majority of its members are youths recruited from Wakiso district, who were recruited and transported to Mityana.  They joined the rebel group with has plans of overthrowing the sitting government.

“We also want to caution the youth against joining such hostile groups.  The claim that they are being motivated by the negative outcome of the 2021 general elections is baseless.  The voices of the majority of Ugandans was heard, and must be respected. Therefore, those politicians accelerating themes of violence, as the B-plan needed to bring about societal collapse and lead to an uprising or civil war are seriously warned,” Enanga said.

As the Joint Security Agencies, Enanga added, “Our top most priority remains the safety of Ugandans and other citizens in the country.  We therefore, take such threats of violent extremism seriously. We have directed more resources to focus on the threat.”

“We want to reiterate that we do not target or investigate any individual or group because of their affiliation, belief or ideology.  It is only where these beliefs and affiliations lead to violence, impurity and lawlessness that we shall bring the perpetrators to book,” said Enanga.