Police in Kiira region, are holding 34 suspects for holding illegal protests oner hig commodity prices in Jinja City and the district.
The suspects are currently detained at three police stations including CPS Buwenge, CPS Kakira and CPS Jinja.
The suspects were picked up at various highway points in Jinja city, where they blocked roads with heavy stones, burned tyres and brought traffic to a standstill.
The group is believed to be part of a bigger group of youths who are being instigated by political groups to protest.
The youths held protests over the increasing commodity prices, citing what they called the government’s failure to provide short-term solutions to address the situation.
They placed logs and lit old tyres in the different trading centers along both the Jinja-Kamuli and Jinja-Iganga highways, blocking traffic throughout the day.
The youths further attacked motorcyclists, passengers and drivers alike, whom they accused of declining to join their protest and forcefully bypassing the stationed road blocks.
Kiira regional police spokesperson, James Mubi said that the suspects engaged in unlawful activities like robbery, illegal blockage of traffic, taking part in unlawful assembly, malicious damage and economic sabotage, which largely interrupted the smooth operability of other activities in the city and surrounding areas.
Mubi further accused what he termed selfish individuals of fueling these ongoing protests for their individual gains.
Mubi stresses that the suspects are facing several counts ranging from inciting violence, public nuisance to robbery.
He asks the public for instance boda bodas, markets, taxi parks, hawkers, not to fall prey.
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