The Uganda Police Force has ranked 2023 as an exceptionally busy year, with many challenges and several tragic incidents across the country.
On Friday, December 22, 2023, while reading the End of Year and Christmas message from Inspector General of Police Martin Okoth Ochola, at the Police headquarters in Naguru, SCP Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson listed the tragic New Year concert at Freedom City, attacks on police stations and posts, and cattle raids within Karamoja and the neighboring districts as some of the challenging incidents that dominated the year 2023.
In his message, IGP Ochola listed attacks on schools, including Lhubirira SSS, attacks by violent actors and ADF rebels, murders arising from domestic violence, land conflicts, and armed robberies, among others. He said the tragic incidents have had devastating impacts on those directly affected, their families, and Ugandans at large.
He commended the police for their hard work in combating the tragic events highlighted in 2023.
“Our success has been due to the hard work of the police in coordination with sister security agencies, the reorganization of the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) for improved detection and investigation, a robust crime intelligence directorate that has built a proactive network of credible informants, strategic partnerships with the community, including the ghetto youth, and other intelligence components to disrupt and dismantle criminals targeting our country,” Enanga read.
He noted that the new initiatives, like the expansion of motorcycle squads, visible tactical and operational teams, expansive community policing, forensic science, and the increased deployment of technology and 2500 additional police officers, among others, have been critical in combating various crimes.
“As observed across the country, our Joint Security Personnel, both armed and unarmed, are already patrolling mapped-out areas to ensure peace, safety, and security for Ugandans and visitors as we approach Christmas Day. The increased visibility and other road policing measures, such as snap checks and stop and search operations, are only a small part of the comprehensive security measures in place,” Enanga said.
“Although a threat to the environment still exists in the county, we would like to assure the public that we are continuously reviewing our level of preparedness and assessing all threats and vulnerabilities in the countdown to Christmas and the New Year. Our joint intelligence components have profiled all major and significant installations, all major venues, and hot spots with potential risks. All our standby teams, mobile squads, advance teams, 999 patrol, and motorcycle squads are already in place,” he added.
Recently, police activated increased visibility for both day and night patrols across the country.