President Museveni has asked the Commander of Land Forces, Lt. Gen Peter Elwelu, to oversee an operation against criminal gangs in Kampala and surrounding areas in what is viewed as the head of state’s continued reliance on the army for any solution.
On Thursday, Deputy IGP Maj.Gen Sabiiti Muzeeyi presented to the President a plan on how police intend to fight crime in the city that has been marked by house break-ins.
And as part of implementation of the plan, Mr Museveni tasked Lt Gen Elwelu together with Maj Gen Sabiiti to take charge of the situation, which sources said is a loss of confidence in IGP Martins Okoth-Ochola’s leadership.
Mr Ochola, who took over from Gen Kale Kayihura, is currently abroad on state duties.
But sources said that by the President turning to Lt Gen Elwelu shows the head of state’s loss of confidence in civilian leaders to handle any security situation.
On Saturday, October 19, Lt Gen Elwelu and Maj.Gen Sabiiti Muzeeyi jointly met all the territorial commanders from Kampala Metropolitan East at Namboole Stadium where they held discussions on how best to address and counter all threats of violent crimes within the KMP. The task team thereafter proceeded and held another meeting with territorial commanders both Police and military from KMP South at Kigo.
Lt Gen Elwelu is known for spearheading the operation on Rwenzururu Kingdom about three years ago, which led to the arrest of the king and several royal guards.
According to the police security plan released on Friday, October 18, each family in a zoned area of responsibility, shall be given a telephone line of the nearest station or post.
The public is encouraged to share all relevant information on all matters of security including distress calls.
“We shall put suggestion boxes at the stations and LC offices. Messages will only be accessed by a select team and all the messages will be treated with confidentiality. The public can also deliver text messages or WhatsApp messages on 0707114114,” police said
Police urged the public to have community based security approaches such as employment of village scouts, vetting and registration of those that work at homes- plumbers, casual labourers, house helps, etc.; installation of cameras in their premises and vehicles (taxis, public and private transport), to boost surveillance and investigation capacities.
Police said the KMP area is going to be divided into policing zones or security constituencies for each station or post, with attendant published call lines, reaction forces and linkage to all stations and posts as well as cameras, when there is a distress call. Other enablers include:
Registration and marking of streets and residences to enhance quick response Lighting of streets and or individual premises or residences where affordable.
