Over 1,300 residents of Gbwayi village in Zoka parish, Itirikwa sub-county, Adjumani District have mobilised and constructed a shs70 police post to contribute towards maintaining law and order and addressing rampant insecurity in the area.
Gbwayi village, with a population of over 3,000 residents primarily engaged in agriculture, is part of one of Adjumani District’s key food-producing areas.
The community contributed cash, materials, and labor to build the police post, which includes five rooms designated for reception, an office for the Officer in Charge (OC), a Crime Intelligence Officer (CID) office, and separate holding cells for male and female suspects.
Additionally, the residents constructed a second structure with five single rooms to house police officers, along with bathing facilities and latrines.
They also provided office furniture and essential food supplies for the officers expected to be deployed.
Patrick Lebu, the clan chief of Pajau, shared that the one-acre plot of customary land on which the police post and staff quarters were built was donated by the Pajau clan.
"Construction began in June of the previous year, after the Inspector General of Police, through the Regional Police Commander, granted permission for the establishment of the post," Lebu said.
Adjumani Deputy Resident District Commissioner Emmanuel Okware commended the residents of Gbwayi village for their initiative in advocating for the police post and praised the Uganda Police Force for supporting the lawful procedures needed to set it up.
"The government is committed to bringing services closer to communities to uphold law and order, I encourage the residents to collaborate with the police to combat criminal activities," Okware said.
The North West Nile region Police Public Relations Officer, Ignatius Dragudu, noted the high incidence of criminal cases in the area, including arson, property theft, malicious damage from land disputes, assaults, and even murder.
"As police we attributed some of these criminal acts to the absence of a nearby police post, as the closest one to Gbwayi village was located fifteen kilometers away," Dragudu said.
Dragudu assured residents that the police would work closely with the community, stating that the new police post would operate effectively from its commissioning to ensure fair and efficient service in maintaining law and order.
Officials from the Uganda Police Force have assured residents that officers will be deployed to the post once the necessary facilities are in place.
This community-led initiative, supported by over 1,300 residents, marks a significant step in enhancing security and law enforcement in the area.