POLICE TRAINEES ACCUSED OF STEALING FARMERS’ SUGARCANE

Mr Enanga, the police spokesman  

By George Muzoora

MASINDI- Marauding police trainees from the Police Training School Kabalye in Masindi District have been  accused by residents of stealing and destroying several hectares of sugarcane.

The trainees who of recent have no movement restriction are being accused by residents of Kabalye II Cell in Masindi Municipality of invading their sugarcane farms on a regular basis and take the cane with impunity.

One of the affected farmers, Mr Lawrence Byarugaba said the trainees storm their plantations as early as 8:00 am and eat their cane.

“The recruits have turned into pests. The rate at which they are destroying our cane has exceeded that of baboons,” Mr Byarugaba said.

Mr Byarugaba said the destruction is greatly affecting their tonnage and profits. A ton of sugarcane costs about  Shs78,000. A hectare of sugarcane on average produces about 100 tons of sugarcane.

 The local council chairman Mr Robert Isingoma said that they have no capacity to stop the trainees from invading residents’ sugarcane gardens.

“In most cases, when we try to chase them from the sugarcane plantations they become violent,” he said.

The police spokesperson Mr Fred Enanga condemned the trainees’ conduct saying police exists to protect people and their property.

“We are also supposed to promote good neighborhood that is why the school has regular meetings with the community surrounding it,” he said.

Mr Isingoma said that recently, a resident of his cell identified as Brian Tumusiime was beaten up by police trainees when he attempted to chase them away from his sugarcane plantation and no action was taken by the leadership of the training school.

“The management of the police training school has given the trainees liberty to the extent of allowing them to move out of school through ungazatted pathways,” he said.

Mr Enanga advised complainants to take the matter to the school commandant who is supposed to take action.

CREDIT: MONITOR