Police on high alert as country celebrates Eid-el-Fitr

The Inspector General of Police John Martins Okoth-Ochola has put the police on high alert as the country celebrates Eid-el-Fitr.

Ochola said, "I have directed all Police Commanders to beef up security in their areas of responsibility during this Eid celebrations and Traffic Officers will be on the roads to see that travellers are safe."

Ochola also urged all proprietors of places for public entertainment to exercise more caution than usual. He said, "I want urge members of the public to exercise vigilance especially in public places such as mosques, entertainment and public events. Event mangers must work closely with police and other sister security agencies to ensure total security."

This is Ochola's first statement on the global Muslim holiday since he was confirmed as the Inspector General of Police in March 2018 by President Yoweri Museveni. He replaced sacked IGP Kale Kayihura who is now in army custody facing yet to be revealed array of charges.

Ochola's four month tenure as IGP has been plagued by security challenges faced by his predecessor. There have been continued kidnaps of women and children by criminals demanding for ransom. The nation was also on June 8, 2018 shocked when Arua Municipality MP Ibrahim Abiriga was shot dead in Kawanda, metres from his home. His attackers made a clean get away.