Kitgum Resident District Commissioner, William Komakech told the District Covid-19 task-force meeting on Tuesday that the suspects were returned on the orders of the Internal Affairs Minister, Gen Jeje Odongo.
The two Russians and a Uganda national who were arrested in Kitgum Municipality for violating the Covid19 travel restrictions and using a state house number plates without authorisation have been returned to Kitgum Central Police station.
They are Gribov Vladislav, Kozhevin Viacheslav and Joseph Aburek. The trio was returned to Kitgum on Monday night, a few hours after they were driven from the district en-route to Kampala where they were scheduled to appear before the Directorate of Criminal Investigations for further investigations.
Kitgum Resident District Commissioner, William Komakech told the District Covid-19 task-force meeting on Tuesday that the suspects were returned on the orders of the Internal Affairs Minister, Gen Jeje Odongo. He said the order came as the suspects were being escorted by Kitgum District Police Commander, Moses Bwire who had reached Angagura Sub County in Pader District, some 57 kilometers out of Kitgum.
“The Internal Affairs Minister Gen Jeje Odongo yesterday evening called and told me the Russians should be returned in Kitgum District. The three people have all been returned as per the order,” Komakech said. He noted that the one of the suspects is being detained at Kitgum Central Police station while two others have been placed under quarantine at Bomah Hotel Ltd in Kitgum Municipality.
Komakech says the suspects have been taken through screening for the deadly corona Virus disease.
Why were the suspects returned?
A high ranking police officer who preferred anonymity says the decision to return the suspects was taken during a cabinet meeting held on Monday chaired by the President.
“The cabinet decided yesterday that the suspects should immediately be returned to Kitgum district. This decision was taken to ensure that the suspects remain in quarantine in Kitgum Municipality and avoid risks of transporting them to Kampala when their health status isn’t clearly known,” the source said in an interview.
He notes that the suspects are expected to undergo the 14 day mandatory quarantine in the district as per the Health Ministry guidelines before they are tested. The suspects who arrived in the country on February 23rd, 2020 from Russia through Entebbe International Airport were arrested on Saturday from Bomah Hotel were they had checked in.
They traveled from Kampala and had reportedly visited Orom Sub-county along with some local leaders to explore a graphite site. Police officers over the weekend impounded a privately owned vehicle bearing state house registration number, which the suspects were reportedly using without the authorisation sticker.
Investigation conducted by police revealed that the vehicle’s original registration UAU 258Z, was replaced to grant them ease of movement to Kitgum district.
Julius Ocungi
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