This operation has been running between police in partnership with the ghetto youth coordinators in Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono districts.
According to police, the 14 day operation ended on December 15. with the recovery of a total of 1865 pieces comprising of military shirts, trousers, shoes, toys guns among others items.
Addressing the press in Kampala on Friday, the director of crime intelligence AIGP Christopher Dhamulira told journalists that this operation followed incidents of aggravated robbery, kidnap, illegal roadblocks at night, house breaking in which the perpetrators were reportedly putting on attires that resemble military or police uniforms.
He said that this operation has been ghetto youth led aimed at putting the people at the centre of national security, while promoting community policing and civil-police cooperation.
“To that end, the ghetto youth coordinators in Kampala, Wakiso, Nansana and Mukono were tasked with collection of the illegal attires from the public and hand them over to territorial Police,” he said.
He however revealed that the operation was planned to be conducted in two phases that is phase 1, which commenced on December 1, and ended on December 15. was voluntary handing over.
In this phase, The owners of illegal attires were assured of protection from prosecution provided they handed over the items within the 14 days grace period.
From now onwards, AIGP Dhamulira said that police with the support of the sister security agencies has embarked on phase II in which anyone found in possession or use of military/ police uniforms or attires that resemble such uniforms will be arrested and charged.
“I wish to thank the public for having supported the operation by willingly handing over thousands of these illegal attires, and the ghetto youth coordinators for having worked closely with the territorial police divisions to ensure the success of the operation,” he said.
Before appealing to the public to desist from buying or acquiring such illegal attires as their possession promotes insecurity and is illegal.
By the end of Phase 1, the following items have been collected:
S/NO
ITEM
UPDF
UPF
LOOK ALIKE
TOTAL
1.
Trousers
26
27
597
650
2.
Skirts
–
01
103
104
3.
Shirts
25
21
86
132
4.
T-Shirts
01
–
340
341
5.
Sweaters
04
01
38
43
6.
Shorts
–
–
38
38
7.
Dresses
–
–
18
18
8.
Jackets
01
–
206
207
9.
Warm suits
–
05
–
05
10.
Ponjos
08
–
–
08
11.
Overalls
–
01
02
03
12.
Rain coats
02
–
–
02
13.
Vests
–
–
07
07
14.
Caps
17
08
136
161
15.
Helmet
–
01
–
01
16.
Boots
03
04
12
19
17.
Batons
02
01
02
05
18.
Walkie-talkie
01
–
–
01
19.
Belts
10
01
04
15
20.
Pips (Lieutenant)
01
–
–
01
21.
Bags
05
–
22
27
22.
Back Pack
03
–
–
03
23.
Bottles
02
01
–
03
24.
Camel bag
02
–
–
02
25.
Live PK Ammos
01
–
–
01
26.
Plastic ammos
03
–
34
37
27.
Tear gas canister
–
01
–
01
28.
Pepper spray
–
02
–
02
29.
Pistol
–
–
01
01
30.
Holster
–
01
–
01
31.
Sling riffle
01
–
–
01
32.
Handcuff keys
–
01
–
01
33.
Ground sheet
01
–
–
01
34.
Mattress cover
–
–
01
01
35.
Bandanas
–
–
21
21
36.
Mosquito nets
01
–
–
01
GRAND TOTAL
120
77
1,668
1,865