Police Arrest former School Board Chairperson for Solar Panel Theft

Police in Namisindwa district have arrested Michael Kosi, the former Chairperson of the Board at Bunambale Primary School, on allegations of stealing a solar panel from the school. Kosi, a 45-year-old resident of Bunasambi village in Tsekululu Sub County, was apprehended after a police sniffer dog led investigators to his home following reports from school leaders.

Elgon regional police spokesperson Rogers Taitika confirmed the arrest, stating that Kosi will face theft charges in court once investigations are complete. Apollo Masika, the Member of Parliament for Namisindwa County, expressed his disappointment over the theft. Masika had donated the solar panels to several schools last year to improve pupils' performance, especially in remote areas without electricity.

In an exclusive interview from his home in Mbale City, Masika revealed that he had spent over one billion shillings to equip more than ten primary schools with solar panels. He suspects that his political opponents may be behind the vandalism and theft, aiming to undermine his efforts and use the incidents against him in the 2026 general elections. Last week, solar panels donated to Bubukala Primary School and Murumba Primary School were also stolen by unknown individuals.