Police in Kagadi are holding 10 people on charges of breaking into the site of Shengli Engineering Construction Group and stealing road construction materials.
The Kagadi District Police Commander (DPC), Mr Stephen Kamar, told Kazi-njema News today (Tuesday) that the suspects’ identities have been concealed for fear of jeopardizing investigations.
However, he said eight are from Kabwoya sub-county in the neighbouring Kikuube district while the remaining two suspects are workers of Shengli Construction Group.
Mr Kamar noted that the two company workers must have colluded with the thugs to steal construction materials including 25 drums of bitumen after breaking into the site in the wee hours of yesterday (Monday).
According to the DPC, the suspects were found loading the drums and other material used for road surfacing and roofing in a box body truck registration number UAA 830Y at Kitemuzi West Cell in Mabaale Town Council, Kagadi District.
Immediately after being arrested with the booty worth Shs25m, the suspects were whisked off to Kagadi Central Police Station for further legal management.
Mr Kamar said the suspects will be arraigned before court to defend themselves against theft and criminal trespass.
Shengli Construction Company Public Relations Officer, Mr Godwin Tashobya, said the rampant theft of construction materials is frustrating the progress of the road works.
Shengli Engineering Construction Group is paving the 101km Kabwooya-Kagadi-Kyenjojo Road at the tune of Shs214b.
The project is co-funded by the International Development Association (IDA) and the Government of Uganda.
