Luwero security committee backs joint operations against burglars

Luwero, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Police and Uganda People’s Defense Forces are set to launch joint operations to crack down on rampant burglaries in Luwero district.

At least five houses or offices are broken into and items stolen. In the latest incident, burglars broke into Luwero district headquarters and stole computers after vandalizing the Closed Circuit Television Cameras-CCTVs.

Several residents are also crying foul after the burglars broke into their houses and stole items such as televisions, money as well as other household items.  Shops have also been targeted and lost merchandise and cash, especially in Luwero town council.

Richard Bwabye the Luwero Resident District Commissioner said that on Thursday, the District Security  Committee comprising commanders from the Police Force, Prisons Service, Uganda People’s Defense Force, and Intelligence officers met to discuss measures to fight the burglaries among other crimes in the district.

Bwabye explained that the rampant burglaries were due to laxity by the Police probably due to the force’s internal weakness which they intend to address.

Bwabye added that during the meeting they resolved to launch joint operations comprising soldiers from Uganda People’s Defense Force and Police after gathering enough information on key suspects behind the burglaries.

Bwabye added that he has written to the commandant of Bombo Military Barracks seeking reinforcement of Police by UPDF soldiers to start operations to hunt for the burglars.

He however cautioned leaders against pleading for the release of suspects during operations yet some are responsible for terrorizing their communities.

The Luwero District Police Commander John Ojokuna said that intelligence-led operations will soon start to arrest the suspects behind them.

Ssekubulwa Majanja the District Councillor for Luwero town council welcomed the operations but asked men deployed in the field to exercise professionalism if they were to meet the Security Committee’s objective.

Majanja said that some operations targeting criminals have not been helpful because they are used to extort money from them rather than prosecute the suspects.

Erastus Kibirango the LCV Chairperson of Luwero District says that following the burglary attack on their offices, the administration also resolved to immediately deploy armed personnel, buy more CCTV cameras, install security lights, and construct a wall fence for the entire headquarters.

On Thursday, the District Police Commander and Resident District Commissioner among other security chiefs also met all Officers in Charge of Police Stations in the district to discuss how to conduct the operations.

According to the Police Crime Report, the cases of breakings reported to the Police stations in Luwero district rose to 218 cases in the year 2023 from 180 cases registered in 2022.

As a result Luwero district was ranked in the sixth position among the districts with the highest cases of breaking.

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