Tumwine says Uganda’s security has never been better than now

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Mon 14 May, 2018

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Security Minister Gen Elly Tumwine has said that the country’s current security situation is the best there has been.

Tumwine was briefing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre as part of requirement for the NRM manifesto week.

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“I’m glad to say that the security of Uganda has never been better than it is now and that we shall work tirelessly to keep it,” Tumwine said.

Tumwine said that government is set to construct headquarters for the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) which is government's counter intelligence agency responsible for providing national security intelligence to Uganda's policy makers.

“Stopping politically organized crime, generation of data, carrying out security sensitization that’s part of what we’ve done. Capacity building for internal organs has also been given priority,” Tumwine said.

Tumwine said government has already increased CCTV cameras and network coverage in Kampala City areas. “Equipment of people with community security skills is also on as promised. Construction of Naguru Police barracks is also being completed.”

“The security priority areas include, acquisition of modern equipment, training, re-skilling and recruitment of security experts and strengthening the already existing academies. All this is on going plus strengthening Uganda police air services. Modernization of our security was one of the key areas for the manifesto commitment. Capacity building of UPDF has been done. Training, recruitment is on to fight crime and enforce order,” he added.

FULL STATEMENT BY TUMWINE

INTRODUCTION

In 2016, the people of Uganda elected the NRM Government basing on its 2016-2021 Manifesto, whose theme was “Strengthening Security, Good Governance and Democracy”.

Since the 2016 general elections, various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Government, including the security sector, have initiated various flagship programmes and projects to meet the commitments/promises in the Manifesto. Some of these programmes/projects have either been implemented or are on implementation stage or are yet to be implemented depending on the availability of resources.

For the purpose of this presentation, my focus will be on the MDAs that provide security. That is Defence, Security and Internal Affairs, and the main areas of the presentation will be:

Key Security Manifesto Commitments

Key achievements against priority targets for 2016-2018

Major challenges

A brief forecast of security priorities (FY 2018/19)

KEY SECURITY MANIFESTO COMMITMENTS

Continuing with Professionalization and Modernisation of the Defence and Security Forces through:

Acquisition and maintenance of equipment

Human capital development

Establishment of a national Defence College

Establishment of the Institute of Security Studies

Increasing Police recruitment to keep law and order

Establishing a Police Academy.

Achievements for the period under review

Building capacity of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces and Intelligence Services to protect and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Uganda, the citizens and their property through recruitment, training and provision of equipment.

Strengthening of command/control and organisational structures of the UPDF and Intelligence Services.

Building the Uganda Police Force capacity to fight crime and to keep law and order through recruitment, training and provision of equipment.

Establishment of a Senior Command and Staff College at Bwebajja

Forecast of priorities (2018/19)

Magamaga Armoured Vehicle Engineering Centre for testing, servicing, repairing and upgrading of UPDF armoured vehicles.

Defence Capacity Building Project. This will involve acquisition and maintenance of modern and technical equipment and targeted recruitment of professionals as well as training and re-skilling.

Establishment of National Defence College at Lugazi as the highest military institution in Uganda for training of senior military and civilian officers.

Upgrading Kabalye Police Training School into a cantonment of school (Basic, promotional, refresher and professional).

Establishment of a Police Academy.

Improving Crime Control, Detection, Prevention and Investigation by:

Increasing community participation in Policing, community service and offender rehabilitation

Increasing CCTV cameras to fight crime

Achievements

Carried out Community Policing and equipping the communities with policing skills in some parts of the country, especially Kampala Metropolitan area and Greater Masaka.

Strengthening the capacity of CID and CI through intelligence gathering, analysis and investigations.

Establishment of forensic and medico-legal services for scientific evidence based investigations

Enhanced collaboration between Interpol Uganda and other international Bureaus to efficiently and effectively manage trans-national and trans-border crimes

Expansion of canine policing services to all UPF stations

Creation of special police units for management of sector specific crime activities (Agriculture. Fisheries, Mineral Police and Environment)

Strengthening of police air services

Offering of skills and even formal education by the Uganda Prisons Services in their facilities (prisons)

CCTV Camera coverage, especially in some parts of Kampala City

Forecast of Priorities

Rolling out community policing to all parts of the country

General and specialized training of detectives in crime investigations and crime intelligence.

Equipping CID and CI with tools and logistics necessary for effective performance (SOCO van, Homicide kits, Cameras, among others)

Strengthening framework for collaboration and coordination with the criminal justice system

Expansion of CCTV infrastructure network to cover all areas in KMP (Entebbe, Kampala CBD, Kampala crime-prone areas, traffic junctions, major municipalities, key border entry points and highways.

Establishment of emergency call centres in the country.

Developing Defence and Security Infrastructure by;

Continuing with construction and rehabilitation of barracks

Construction and rehabilitation of health, education and sports infrastructure in barracks.

Achievements

Improving the welfare of the security forces through:

Construction of accommodation units some Barracks (Katabi, Moroto, Nakasongola, Masaka Armoured Brigade)

Construction/rehabilitation of Bombo Military Hospital

Construction of some Police stations, especially in PRDP areas.

Ongoing construction of Naguru Police Barracks

Construction of Uganda-Iran Hospital for UPF at Naguru

Forecast of priorities

§ Barracks construction and renovation to improve accommodation and living conditions for officers and men together with their families.

Construction of Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs/UPDF Headquarters in Mbuya to solve office accommodation challenges.

Development of UPDAF Physical Infrastructure in Entebbe, Nakasongola, Gulu, Masindi and Soroti.

Construction of Military Referral Hospital at Mbuya to offer specialised services and handle referral cases.

Construction of a General Police Hospital and , health centres to offer health services to |Police personnel, their families and the community

Construction of new and renovation of old barracks facilities countrywide for provision of decent housing and accommodation to police personnel

Construction of UPF headquarters, new regional headquarters, new police stations and renovation of old ones.

Enhancing UPF building and construction capabilities.

Strengthening Research and Development by;

Fully operationalising the Defence Research, Science and Technology Centre (DRSTC) and;

The Avionics Research Centre at Lugazi and Nakasongola respectively.

Achievements

Establishment of the Defence Research, Science and Technology Centre (DRSTC) at Lugazi to spearhead scientific Research and Development, leading to better scientific products and absorption of foreign technology.

Construction of Aviation Training Academy at Nakasongola.

Forecast of priority

Revitalisation of Defence Research, Science and Technology Centre (DRSTC) at Lugazi Project.

Promoting Production for;

Wealth creation and self-sustainability and,

Participating in the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway.

Achievements

The UPDF has continued to engage in productive activities for national development, specifically through Operation Wealth Creation (OWC).

UPDF has created the Roads and Railway engineers’ regiment to participate in the construction of Standard Gauge Railway. Some UPDF engineers, technicians and soldiers have been trained locally and abroad to implement the SGR.

Wazalendo SACCO promoting the saving culture among men and officers and improving their welfare through loans.

Involvement of Uganda Prisons Service in the production of food and cotton in various Prison farms.

Uganda Police Force also embarked on programmes aimed to production for wealth creation. These include:

Training staff with agricultural skills and best practices

Procure agricultural tools and equipment, especially for spouses of police personnel

Promotion of a saving culture (Exodus and PSAL SACCOs)

Engagement in economic empowerment of personnel (tree planting, production).

Engage in Primary, Secondary and Industrial Production;

Initially for internal consumption and,

Later as a commercial venture.

Achievements

Enterprises Corporation (NEC) Ltd has continued to deliver quality products and services to government departments and the general public by undertaking a wide range of economic activities in a sustainable manner.

UPF factory at Lugogo that produces uniforms

Involvement of Uganda Prisons Services in production of quality furniture, craft, among others

Forecast of priorities (2018/19)

· Expanding Luwero Industries to satisfy the need for ordinance and strategic military capacity of UPDF, enhance scientific and technical capability and for improved Research and Development.

Food and Beverages Production Project to support self-sufficiency in dry ration, among others.

Strengthening Internal and External Security;

Achievements

Generation and provision of intelligence for pre-emptive actions against politically motivated crimes, terrorism, insurgencies, other forms of organised crime and espionage.

Generation of intelligence data required to formulate policy and preventing and/or controlling attendant vices.

Carrying out security sensitization of the grass root population.

Forecast priorities (2081/19)

Capacity building for ISO. This involves acquisition of Communication equipment; Transport equipment; Training and re-skilling; Maintenance of Foundation Security; Security mobilisation, among others.

Construct dormitories for the Institute of Security and Intelligence Studies – ISIS for improved skill and knowledge on security and Intelligence concerns.

Establishment of Security Information Monitoring Centre in accordance with Section 3 of the Regulation of Interception of Communications Act, 2010.

Construction of ISO Headquarters and Field Stations

Construction of ESO HQRS and Field offices

Upgrading Health Facilities to provide efficient and high quality medical care to ISO and ESO staff, their families and the community.

Capacity Building to improve efficiency for ESO. This will involve acquisition and maintenance of modern and technical equipment, human resource development, targeted recruitment of professionals, training and re-skilling and acquisition of ICT and Specialized Technical Equipment

Diplomatic and Security stations to cater for external liaison and intelligence exchange with the host country besides marketing the country’s image to attract investors among others.

Contribution towards pacification of the region through intelligence-sharing with other friendly foreign services. As a result, Uganda is to host the Liaison and Fusion Centre for the Eastern African region and Horn of Africa.

Improved health services by ISO and ESO Health facilities to staff and their families.

Improved welfare of staff through USALAMA SACCO.

Participating in the UN keeping Missions, especially Somalia

Playing a Key Role in Establishing the Institutional Framework for the National Service Scheme;

Forecast of priorities (2018/19)

Establishment of a National Service to equip the Ugandan youth with the requisite, knowledge, skills and values that will enable them to contribute to the country’s socio-economic development as well as National Defence and Security.

Resettling Arrears for Veterans;

Achievement;

Establishment of the Department of Veterans Affairs in the Ministry of Defence to oversee the resettlement and re-integration of military veterans into civilian life.

Forecast priorities (2018/19)

Payment of arrears for veterans (This is one of the flagship projects relevant to meeting the Manifesto commitments and mentioned in the 23 Presidential Strategic Directives of 23 Jun 16).