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20 to appear in court over torching Boda Boda 2010 offices
20 boda boda riders were arrested and they are being detained at different division headquarters. They are facing charges of arson and destruction of property. file photo
What you need to know:
- “They are facing charges of arson and destruction of property. They will be taken to court tomorrow (today),” Luke Owoyesigire, Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson
Kampala. Police yesterday said 20 people who were arrested for allegedly torching offices of Boda Boda 2010 Association will be charged in court today.
Offices of the association in Bukesa, Wakaliga and Makindye, all city suburbs, were burnt down following the Saturday arrest of its leader, Mr Abdullah Kitatta, by the military.
“We arrested 20 boda boda riders and they are being detained at our different division headquarters. They are facing charges of arson and destruction of property. They will be taken to court tomorrow (today),” said Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigire.
Army and police spent the better part of Monday in running battles with boda boda riders who raided and set ablaze the offices a day after Mr Kitatta’s arrest over the murder of the Case Clinic accountant Francis Ekalungar.
Ekalungar was kidnapped on January 2 on his way to bank the hospital’s Shs15m. His body was discovered by police in Kajjansi, burnt beyond recognition. Military intelligence investigations revealed that Ekalungar was trailed by men on three motorcycles that monitored him from outside the hospital premises on Buganda Road.
The military took over the investigations after police said they were lacked clues on the killers. The military investigations narrowed down to Kitatta’s brother, Mr Huzairu Kiwalabye, and several others as the key suspects in the murder. Kiwalabye is a member of Boda Boda 2010 Association, which the Inspector General of Police has been praising for helping police fight crime in Kampala.
Speaking at a joint army and police media briefing on Monday, Lt Col Deo Akiiki, the deputy army and defence spokesman, said CMI investigations directly connected Mr Kiwalabye to Ekalungar’s murder.
He said when Mr Kitata learnt about his brother’s arrest, he tried to interfere by way of threats, protests and blocking roads, prompting the military to arrest him and his colleagues. By Monday, at least 30 members of Boda Boda 2010 had been arrested over the murder or related activities in the aftermath of the homicide.
There was information yesterday that military intelligence personnel had apprehended eight more members of Boda Boda 2010 but Lt Col Akiiki declined to give details.
“At this moment we are unable to divulge further information on the matter until at some point when another process starts,” Lt Col Akiiki said.
He said the suspects in the murder will be taken to court but did not give a date.
At the Monday press briefing, he said more Boda Boda 2010 members were on the run following the arrest of their leader.
