A total of 10 foreign
nationals were on Thursday charged with illegal entry into the country after
they were rounded up in an operation carried out in Gulu City.
The suspects are among the 48 street hawkers arrested by a joint team of police
and the army.
David Mudong Ongom, the Aswa River Region Police Spokesperson says that out of
the 10 suspects, five are Congolese, two Tanzanians, and three Kenyans
Nationals.
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Ongom revealed that the
suspects together with their Ugandan accomplices, disguise themselves as street
hawkers in the daytime, but snatch phones, handbags as well as commit other vices
within the City Center at night.
According to Mudong, the
suspects are mobile, do not have permanent residence in the City, and would
only operate near strategic busy areas like Banks, the High Court, Markets,
among others.
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suspicions.” //
Meanwhile, the 38 street
hawkers are still in police custody and have their fingerprints taken and
analyzed to find out whether they are habitual offenders.
Alex Okoya, the Chairman of Laborline Ward, Pece –Laroo Division in Gulu City
applauded the security for the crackdown saying it was long overdue and that it
will also help to ensure trade order in the City.
Okoya also added that the crackdown
shall restore peace and sanity in Gulu City since robbery, phones and handbag
snatching, pickpocketing, among other crimes, were on the rise.
Jesse Johnson James
Freelancer