Traders accuse police of working hand in hand with thieves

Traders in downtown Kampala have pointed fingers at the Uganda police for allegedly aiding theft in the business area.

These accusations come as the festive season draws close and the crime rate is expected to rise.

Everyday by 11am, downtown Kampala is a bustling hub of activity where everything is done urgently except for security.

Traders appreciate  the lack of security but are quick to accuse police for working hand in hand with those that have terrorized them for years.

There are no checkpoints at most arcade entrances at Luwum street, for example. A DFCU bank ATM on the same road with no guard seems to have been turned into a meeting point for all sorts of people not carrying out any bank transactions.

There are no checks at the Old Taxi Park which is the transport heartbeat of the city and indeed the country. Travellers enter and exit the Old Taxi Park with unchecked luggage.

Mukwano Arcade is no different. Despite three security guards on duty, no one is being checked as they saunter into the shopping mall.

Traders say sometimes a customer turns out to be a pickpocket pretending to be a buyer.

But deputy police spokesperson Luke Oweyesigire argues that many victims often refuse to cooperate with the police.

Oweyesigire says there is a special independent unit within the police that cracks down on instances of corrupt police that is reported.

He says that police is aware that crime rises in the festive season and have set up several operation points to curb crime.

In polices defense Deputy Spokesperson Luke  Oweyesigire says often the culprits refuse to cooperate with police.

In regards to corrupt police officers Oweyesigire says a special unit independent from local police will help those that provide information.

To curb the anticipated high crime rate uganda police has launched a couple of on spot operations this festive season.