Police arrests 5 over false terror alert

According to Police, the suspects include Nzabahimana Narsis, a 29-year-old male adult; 22-year-old Baguma Ronald; 25-year-old Tusiime Jackson; 16-year-old Busobozi Richard; and 14-year-old Kagaba Derrick, who were all arrested from Kahuna cell, Kijura town council, in Kabarole District.

"We further established that the group, while using telephone contact, 0780498891, issued threats to attack the community and the Police. They said that they are the ones who dropped the anonymous threatening letter at the River Mpanga bridge and that they are a group of 30 rebels with five rifles in Kiamara Forest. The suspects were all arrested for allegedly posting violent threats towards the community in Kirere and the Police," a statement issued by the police reads.

It further read: "The public should know that such hoax threats are crimes. After the Kasese school attack, we are seeing an increase in hoax threats against the community, schools, and businesses, via anonymous text messages, posted on social media, and via phone calls and audio recordings."

"As the joint Security Agencies, we take each threat seriously due to the devastating consequences of fear and panic in the Community. We continue to reassure the public that we are committed and dedicated to securing the safety and security of our communities along the western border with the DRC against any potential threat, including terrorism, through high-visibility patrols and other covert but targeted operations."

This new development comes against the backdrop of the arrest of two students by Police in Sheema district over a false Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) attack alarm.

The two senior one students who go to school at St. Charles Lwanga High School in Sheema District wrote a letter to their school administration while impersonating ADF rebels, claiming that the rebel group was planning on attacking the school.

Police said the two students admitted to having written the letter, and not the rebels.