{UAH} Kayihura, western leaders warn locals against theft of road items

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/2084706/-/4c23mi/-/index.html

Kayihura, western leaders warn locals against theft of road items

By Perez Rumanzi & Rajab Mukombozi

Posted  Saturday, November 23  2013 at  02:00

In Summary

The IGP said many companies shy away from construction contracts, especially in western Uganda because of theft and vandalisation of road equipment.

The Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura, has paraded 20 people accused of stealing construction materials of a company rehabilitating the Mbarara-Ntungamo-Katuna road.

The suspects were arrested by the police Flying Squad, deployed following an outcry by Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) and local leaders.

Parading the suspects in Rubaare Town Council this week, Gen Kayihura said he had received several calls from First Lady Janet Museveni over the rampant theft of construction materials for the highway.

"I got a call from the First Lady over the massive insecurity and theft in Ruhaama and other parts of Ntungamo. As I started preparing for a response. She called me again complaining about the theft of fuel from RCC. Other leaders too called me and we launched an operation," Gen Kayihura said.

He described the suspects as the "small fish" who would lead investigators to the "big fish".
The company claims it loses at least 2,000 litres of fuel daily and other construction materials like cement and iron bars.

The suspects were arrested between November 11 and 15 from Ntungamo, Rubaare, Rwentobo and Rwahi trading centres and taken to Kampala with the alleged exhibits.
Gen Kayihura said many companies shy away from construction contracts, especially in western Uganda, because of theft and vandalisation of road equipment.
"We have had challenges where there has been road construction, especially in western Uganda. In Kisoro there was a lot of theft of materials and we deployed. Kaguta Road (Kiruhura District), thieves invaded the road camp, stole everything and killed a Chinese," Gen Kayihura said

He added that the Chinese contractors wanted to abandon the road works.
Katooma Parish chairperson Stephen Rubegyemera said thieves connive with people inside the company's base to steal materials.

He said arresting residents alone would not solve the problem. "They (RCC employees) are the ones who steal and sell to us. When we buy, they want to arrest us. The problem is in RCC and that is where there are thieves, rout them out and see if we shall have fuel to deal in," Mr Rubagyemera said.

Resident District Commissioner Peter Kibondo Rwakifari said they had held two security meetings following several complaints from RCC over theft of materials and machines at the company's site in Rwentobo village.

"I received two calls from the President himself asking me about fuel thefts at RCC station. We convened a district security meeting and resolved to patrol. The first time we did it, we got a pick-up loaded with 57 20-litre jerrycans of petrol. The next time we got 27 jerrycans and the last time we did it this week, we got 300 jerrycans and drums," he said.

Mr Rwakifari said they were also investigating reports that materials worth Shs100 million had been stolen from the RCC site.

The RCC station engineer, Mr Jim Sharp, said the theft is planned internally in the company's camp and escalated by laxity in security, especially corrupt police officers who do nothing when the cases are reported to them.

"Every time we suspect or get someone stealing fuel, they threaten our lives. We know they are sophisticated and they are inside. They are individuals capitalising on the community. Security guards are our challenge but police cannot be trusted too," Mr Sharp said.
editorial@ug.nationmedia.com

 

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