Kampala, (UG): The Criminal Investigations Directorate in coordination with the police at Old Kampala division are holding a Congolese National over a hand grenade that exploded in Rubaga division, a Kampala suburb.
The suspect identified as Basake Ndakulye, 39, was arrested after the hand-made grenade device exploded at his house in Katende zone, Nakulabye Rubaga Division on 15, August 2023 at around 4:30 am.
Police say no family member got injured from the resulting explosion.
According to Police Spokesperson SCP Fred Enanga, Ndakulye, and his family had stayed in the area for 4 years after migrating as refugees from North Kivu province in southeastern DR Congo.
Enanga says upon learning of the incident, officers from Old Kampala Police Division visited the scene and thoroughly evaluated and documented it leading to the recovery of several bomb-making devices to aid in ongoing investigations.
“A safety pin, a green lead, and a spoon, soil samples were retrieved for further analysis,” Enanga noted.
According to Mr. Enanga, Ndakulye admitted to having smuggled into the country, and further evidence collected shows that he had tampered with the hand grenade before its explosion inside the house.
“As a result, he was immediately arrested for unlawfully being in possession of dangerous explosives,” Enanga noted.
The Police spokesperson said detectives are further establishing the true identity of the suspect after he was found in possession of two passports from the DRC and Burundi.
“He is being further profiled by the Directorate of Crime Intelligence.”
“We call upon all refugees to abide by the laws of our country and to stop the unlawful trafficking of dangerous weapons into the country. Smuggling of weapons is not only a crime punishable by law but are easily capable of causing mass casualties, once they get into the wrong hands,” Enanga warned.
Police said they are devoted to the identification of suspects or wrong elements in possession of illegal guns and explosives and bringing them to book.
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