Africa-Press – Uganda. At least 50 suspects have been remanded to Kirinya Prison up to August 9, following protests that rocked Jinja City on Monday over high food and fuel prices.
Residents, mainly from Mafubira, a city suburb in Jinja North Division, blocked Jinja-Kamuli and Jinja-Iganga highways, burnt tyres and pelted motorists with stones, leaving several cars damaged and some bystanders injured.
The residents were expressing their dissatisfaction over the government’s alleged reluctance to provide tangible solutions to high prices of essential commodities and fuel.
Following the demonstrations, a police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he’s not authorised to speak to the media, said 250 people were arrested during an operation on Tuesday night, and after screening, 50 were detained at Jinja Central Police Station, taken to Court and remanded to Kirinya prison.
25 detained in Jinja for protesting over high food, fuel prices
The suspects were mainly picked from Namulesa, Mafubira, Wakitaka, Bugembe and Walukuba, all Jinja City suburbs.
The Jinja District Police Commander, Mr David Otabong, said the Police and UPDF on Tuesday night carried out an operation after identifying “specific areas” where some of the suspects were staying.
“We shall not tolerate such acts anymore, that is why we have carried out a joint operation with the UPDF to ensure that the culprits are brought to book,” he said, adding that the suspects will help in further investigations.
According to Mr Otabong, some of the suspects are career criminals and repeat offenders, adding that fresh charges are going to be slapped on them.
It was the second time in a month that demonstrators have taken to the streets to voice their anger over the rising cost of living in a country whose economy has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic and more recently the war in Ukraine.
In most remote parts of the country, petrol is selling for Shs7,000 ($1.85) a litre, a two-fold increase since February.
As discontent continues to grow over the rising prices, President Museveni has repeatedly ignored calls for tax cuts and subsidies, urging citizens to live frugally instead.
In his annual state of the nation address in June, Museveni said, “Cutting taxes and subsidies, especially on imports, is suicidal because our people may buy carelessly and we end up draining our forex (foreign exchange) reserves.”
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