Police spokesperson Fred Enanga has revealed that they will no longer charge anyone found vandalizing utility infrastructure with theft but rather with terrorism.
According to Enanga, the office of the Directorate of Prosecution guided them in prosecuting acts of vandalism of utility infrastructure, sabotage, and destruction of public property under the Anti–Terrorism Act, of 2002.
“As you are all aware, critical infrastructure acts as the life support system of our everyday existence.
Right now, our country has a highly complex and sophisticated system of electricity infrastructure and other utility infrastructure, that all Ugandans and visitors in the country rely on for their health, safety, security, and economic well-being. Therefore, any attack or destruction of a single point of our critical infrastructure could lead to disruptions or destruction that could harm the community and the country at large,” said Enanga.
He went on to say that terrorism is caused not only by violent tactics like active shooter events, IEDs, suicide and roadside bombs, and so on, but also by saboteurs and other disgruntled individuals who target vital utility infrastructure.
“Going forward, all agents, collaborators, dealers, and brokers of utility infrastructure are informed of this new development.
The Joint Security Agencies, the DPP, and all stakeholders under the criminal justice system remain committed to maintaining the safety of all utility infrastructure in the county and will aggressively pursue, all perpetrators causing significant damage to utility infrastructure,” he said.