The police are receiving several complaints about pilgrims losing their clothes to thieves.
Some of the pilgrims locked themselves inside the latrines and toilets until they were rescued and provided with clothing. As a result, police and sister security agencies have increased presence at all sanitary centres to protect pilgrims’ clothes.
Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, said police have intensified operations within the catholic shrines since the numbers are increasing every minute compared to yesterday.
The operations majorly conducted by the covert security team have led to the arrest of 12 suspects according to Owoyesigyire. The suspects are linked to among other crimes theft of money and phones as well as clothes.
Police and the army say the situation both inside and outside the shrines is still calm despite the minor thefts recorded. Security believes the cases are a result of a few pilgrims compared to the previous years and increased vigilance.
Some pilgrims have also been blamed for leaving their luggage unattended to. Others have been seen counting their money in open spaces something which security agencies say is attracting thieves.
The commander of the Kampala Metropolitan Child and Family protection unit, Caroline Kushemererwa, said they had recorded six cases of children separated from their parents because of the huge crowds.
Kushemererwa says that five children had been reunited with their parents.
At the Red Cross emergency center, 16 people including five children could not trace their relatives.
The Red Cross team was using megaphones while in some cases people who have written contacts would be helped to call their relatives.
-URN
