Written By | Jovita Hasto
Security officials in Ibanda gathered to attend a gathering held at Ibanda district headquarters as insecurity continue to wreck havoc in the area. [File: Jovita Hasto]
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IBANDA
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Abas Byakagaba, has visited the districts of Ibanda and Kazo in Ankole in a security engagement aimed at finding out why murder cases have sparked fear among residents in the area.
The visit followed a public outcry over rising crime, including rampant murders, livestock theft and theft of agricultural produce, which have affected development in the two districts.
Ibanda and Kazo districts have registered 28 murder incidents between July and September, according to police. The cases are reportedly related to domestic disputes, theft, land wrangles and family conflicts, leaving residents living in fear.
On October 4, the IGP engaged security officials in both districts on ways to address the insecurity concerns that have kept residents in fear.
Byakagaba explained that there was a need for security agencies to intervene and engage with local leaders and communities to find solutions that would enable people to live peacefully.
“We are here to respond to reports of crime from sub-counties which have issues of murders and stealing of agricultural produce, generally to ensure that we restore security so that people can carry on with their normal activities, with the hindsight that we, as security, are supposed to offer the requisite environment so that development can take place for the good of all people and ourselves,” he said.
He added that there should be collaboration between local communities and security agencies to help in reporting criminals, stressing that police cannot work alone.
“These [security agencies] cannot work alone without the collaboration of other peace-loving people. We call upon all our people to work with security agencies so that peace prevails everywhere.
“Mobilise people, do a lot of community policing and community patrols, and ensure that, in your areas, all people are looking in the same direction so that we ensure security for our people,” he added.
The IGP assured the public that more security personnel would be deployed at the sub-county level to strengthen security and law enforcement in areas with inadequate personnel.
“All these sub-counties, for example in Ibanda, each sub-county is going to get a minimum of six additional personnel within the coming week,” he said, responding to Ibanda district leaders who informed him about some sub-counties without police posts.
In Ibanda District, the sub-counties of Bwahwa and Irimya Parish in Kicuzi Sub-county do not have nearby police posts. This has continued to affect residents' ability to report security concerns, as police often take a long time to respond.
IGP Abas Byakagaba arrives at Ibanda district headquaters where he had a security engagement with heads of security in Ibanda
Leaders in Ibanda presented areas that are far from police stations and asked for intervention, as explained by Ibanda District Chairperson Happy Herbert Mayanja.
“We still have sub-counties that are far detached from police posts, and locals move 35 kilometres to reach police posts. We have the divisions of Bisheshe and Kagongo that cannot be served by one police post. So, we have requested the IGP to look into those concerns,” he said.
He also appealed to the community to work closely with security agencies.
“I call upon the residents of Ibanda, churches and local leaders to work with Community Development Officers, leaders and the police by giving information about the people who are involved in disturbing people's peace. We found out that the Community Development Officers are not working with Sub-county OCs and GISOs to organise barazas for security sensitisation so that growing insecurity is curbed,” he explained.
Ibanda District Resident Commissioner Godfrey Mbetegyereize blamed some leaders for engaging community members without involving security officials, yet some of the challenges facing Ibanda are security-related.
He said there should be collaboration between leaders and security officials to ensure the safety of residents.
“We should be working for development. However, the MPs in this area held baraza meetings without informing security, yet security has always identified challenges facing the people, and some leaders are part of the problem. If we work as a team, we can easily find solutions to the challenges that affect our people,” he stated.
Mbetegyereize also highlighted how some PDM beneficiaries have lost their property to thieves who operate at night, an issue he said has set residents back in economic development.
“Security operatives should work towards the national vision for a well-governed and secure environment, but we cannot achieve that when we do not have peace. People are losing livestock at night. We need to guard the future of this nation so that we achieve Vision 2040 as articulated by the President of Uganda,” he added.
If security personnel are deployed on the ground as advised by the IGP, Mbetegyereize said Ibanda would be able to have more criminals arrested with the help of whistleblowers.
“Let’s work as a team. Let’s not leave security issues to the police alone but engage the community so that they can easily report vagabonds for investigation and ensure that peace prevails while we work within the law to make Uganda better and promote development,” he said.
According to the crime report from police in the Rwizi Region, Ibanda and Kazo registered 28 murder incidents between July and September. The cases included double murders.
