Kampala – Police say a total of 45 children have been recovered after they strayed away from their parents and guardians during Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations in Namugogo on Saturday.
Fred Enanga the police spokesperson said Monday that the recovered children had been reunited with their parents and
guardians.
Addressing a security press conference at police headquarters on Monday, Enanga described as successful the June 3rd Martyrs Day celebrations.
He said over 3 million participants including foreign Christian delegations from the USA, South Africa, Europe, Nigeria Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, South Sudan, Cameroon and Ghana among others were effectively secured.
“…it’s against this background that the leadership of the joint security agencies came out to applaud all security personnel and stakeholders who in their areas of responsibilities enabled very peaceful, safe and secure Uganda martyrs day celebrations in Namugogo, Nakiyanja Mamre prayer Center and at the Muslim site. From a security standpoint, the Martyrs Day celebrations were a resounding success,” he said
Enanga said no major incidents were registered during the celebrations. He noted however that a total of 199 cases were reported over a period of seven days (from 28th May to June 4th) when they deployed at Namugogo.
Of these, 130 were of phone theft, 62 general theft and seven other offenses which all led to 148 arrests.
“…there are some lost and found properties which are still at Namugogo police like National IDs, Bibles, clothes, laptop bags, etc,” said Enanga
He further said as of Sunday, they still had about 22 pilgrims at the Catholic site who were still stranded and they were making arrangements with the transport sector to see how they can get transported back to their places of origin.
Uganda Martyrs Day is celebrated every 3rd June at Namugogo in commemoration of 45 Ugandan Christians who were killed for their faith.
The martyrs including 22 Catholics and 23 Anglicans were murdered at Namugogo on orders of Kabaka Mwanga the then ruler of Buganda Kingdom.
