Kampala — THE Police in Jinja have arrested three suspected thugs and recovered stolen property from a hide-out.

District Police chief John Cohen Arinaitwe said the suspects were arrested during an operation code-named 'Kama Mbaya', which he commanded in Walukuba/Masese on Wednesday night. The joint operation was carried out by security operatives and local council leaders.

The Police on Thursday paraded the suspects, together with the stolen items, before journalists. The items included new and old mattresses, suitcases, clothes, travel bags, ladies' handbags, shoes and a bicycle.

The suspects were identified as Aaron Etyang 19, John Onyango 16 and Faili Olingo 19, all residents of Masese III in Jinja Municipality. They were yet to be taken to court and charged with possession of stolen property, burglary and theft, Arinaitwe said.

"This group is very notorious and very dangerous. We suspect they have been carrying firearms to terrorise innocent residents. We have not recovered any firearms but we have intensified the operation and we shall arrest many more other suspects," he said.

In a related case, the Police are hunting for unidentified thugs who murdered a bodaboda cyclist in Kakira. Mohammed Lumeriga was killed in Mawoito B village in Kakira sub-county on Sunday night.