Assassins targeting VIPs during Independence holiday – Police

Police have said they have received intelligence reports indicating imminent attacks on VIPs in various parts of the country before, during and immediately after independence celebrations meant for October 9.

In a statement by the police spokesperson Emilian Kayima, the attacks could be in form of assassinations or in form of terror attacks.

“The police have intelligence that some criminal elements within and outside the country may want to commit heinous crimes against members of the public especially VIPs like Hon. Ministers, MPs, senior executives and security personnel during or after October 9 when Uganda celebrates her independence, ”reads in part the  press statement by Kayima.

“This is to inform the country that security is prepared to decisively fight these crimes as we continue to monitor their activities.”

According to the police mouthpiece, they have deployed both covertly and overtly in a big to thwart the imminent attacks.

The police have asked members of the public, especially those mentioned to be extra cautious and be vigilant of the imminent attacks on them.

“Be vigilant and alert to avoid being caught off guard by quickly reporting suspicious characters, suspicious phone calls and suspicious movements around your homes or office premises.”

The VIPs and any other persons have been warned to watch vehicles of motorcycles while driving and take appropriate action like alerting police, parking in populated places or where there is security along highways.

The VIPs have also been warned against routines especially in terms of movements, timings and places they usually visit like shopping centers.

“It is a good security measure to always inform your family members of your movement and it is fair enough to also let them know of your travel plans, persons you intend to meet, expected time of return home an your fears if any,” says Kayima’s statement.

A number of high profile people including Maj.Muhammad Kiggundu, prosecutor Joan Kagezi,AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi, Muslim clerics, MP Col.Ibrahim Abiriga  and recently ASP Muhammad Kirumira have in the past been attacked and shot dead by unknown assailants .

In all these cases, the victims have been attacked while in their vehicles before being sprayed with several rounds of bullets.

President Museveni recently announced a move to re-introduce Local Defence Units to a tune of 24000 personnel as a temporary solution to the increasing spate of criminality especially murders.

He said these would help sort the situation as government continues to install cctv cameras.

Addressing the country about the state of affairs on September 9, Museveni said the problem of urban crime is becoming big and is worrying many people in the country.

The president explained that government will deploy both crime preventers who will be first vetted by their LC1 leaders and reserve force to be recruited into LDUs that man towns and will help fight insecurity and urban crime.

“Kampala has 1000 villages and we shall fill them with man power and our guns will answer these criminals. We shall see which guns have more effect.”

This means that on average, each village in Kampala will have 24 LDU guards.

Museveni who sounded incensed said government has been forced to deploy the Luweero bush war methods to fight urban crime.

“These idiots (criminals) don’t know the elephants they are fighting with. They have done it repeatedly and I have ordered for mobilisation of 24,000 LDUs. We are also going to recall reserves to man towns,” he noted.

He insisted that the police is still using old methods to detect and fight crime but said the new method will help fight crime in urban areas where it has not been easy.

“It is going to cost us more money to a tune of Shs 57bn but will ensure security is tight. It will go on for a year until cameras are installed. This is the NRM way to handle things like we did in the bush.”

He also emphasized the use of modern techniques including CCTV cameras and drones to help fight crime especially in urban centres if their installation is done, noting that the project would be completed in nine months time.

Installation of CCTV cameras in major areas of the city kicked off recently and according to police, a total of 3233 cameras on 1248 sites which is part of the program to install 5552 all over the country.