The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Luwero, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Luwero District Security Committee and leaders are regretting the merging of Police Posts following the escalation of crime. According to the Police Crime report released last week, 4111 cases were reported to Police stations in Luwero in 2023 and the district was ranked the second with the highest cases across the country.
The report further indicates that there was an increase compared to 3902 total cases reported in 2022 and 2880 cases in 2021. The district recorded 1,131 theft cases from 985 cases in 2022 and 218 cases of breaking in the houses. Other 99 girls were defiled,90 people were killed,177 phones were stolen and 120 motorcycles were stolen, among others in the same year among other cases.
Richard Bwabye, the Luwero Resident District Commissioner says the increasing crimes are due to inadequate manpower and a lack of police posts to respond to crimes, especially in emerging trading centers. Bwabye explains that in some areas, thieves can attack a village and it takes a full day for the Police to reach the scene due to the distance leaving the residents crying foul.
He says that as a result, the District Security Committee together with the Regional Police Commander have resolved to re-open Kanyanda, Katinti Police posts, and others in the Kamira sub-county to fight crimes after finding that it was a mistake to remove them. Bwabye added that they have also appealed to the Inspector General of Police for more manpower because the district is large and densely populated.
Sperito Kiroli the LC 3 Chairperson of Zirobwe sub county says that apart from long distances to stations, the only patrol truck at Zirobwe Police station broke down making it difficult for security personnel to respond in time even if you reach out to them before a crime is committed.
Kiroli says that the absence of Police Posts is an opportunity for criminals to terrorize residents and flee without a chase. Kiroli has appealed to the Police Force to consider reopening two Police Posts and creating two others in his area if they are to reduce the number of cases in the area.
Robert Ssekitoleeko the Bamunanika County Member of Parliament says that the merging of Police Posts was done without proper security assessments and disregarded to advice of the leaders.
Ssekitoleeko that the Police Force was supposed to re-enforce the Posts not remove because this created a security gap which has been used by thieves to steal from residents.
He adds that he offered iron sheets to construct Police posts to host them and help to offer security in the area but was surprised to see them removed leaving residents at Mercy of God.
John Ojokuna the Luwero District Police Commander declined to comment on the matter. In 2022, Luwero District Security Committee approved the merging of the Wabitungulu police post with Zirobwe Police Station, Kasiiso police Post, and Buntuntumula Police Station and transferred Kabunyata and Mazzi Police posts to Kamira Police Station among others.
They also merged Busiika Police Post with Bugema Police Station. This came after assailants stormed Busiika Police Station shot dead two police officers and injured two others critically before making off with two firearms. While meeting the commanders in Savannah Region after the attack, the Deputy Inspector General of Police Major General Katsigazi Tumusiime said the police posts were symbolic and they had become targets of criminals.
Katsigazi said that they were planning to re-enforce the merged Police Station with at least 15-20 policemen, equip them to respond to any attack, deploy more canine units, and build more CCTV networks. However, some of the measures are yet to be implemented to date. There are 978 policemen in the Savannah Police Region guarding an estimated population of one million people spread in districts Luwero, Nakaseke, and Nakasongola districts.
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