Foreign National Nabbed Red-Handed Stealing Solar Panel

A Rwandan national is in police custody for allegedly vandalizing a street solar panel along Jackson road in Central Division, Kabale municipality.

The suspect Alphonse Shirmak, 32, was caught in the act near the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Kabale branch early Wednesday morning.

Police Spokesperson for Kigezi region, Elly Maate, confirmed the arrest, stating that Shirmak was intercepted by patrol police as he attempted to remove the solar street light panel in the wee hours of the morning.

Upon realizing his actions were thwarted, Shirmak attempted to flee on a waiting motorcycle, but was netted by police. Maate indicated that the suspect is likely to face charges of vandalism and theft once investigations conclude.

The vandalism comes at a time when Kabale had recently commissioned a solar street lights project under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) program, worth 1.9 billion Ugandan shillings.