THE Jinja Cantonment Commander based at Gaddafi Barracks Brig Gen. Emmanuel Kanyesigye has challenged the security agencies in Busoga to be extra alert because the outlawed ADF terrorist outfit has a lot of interest in the region.
He names Iganga, Mayuge, Namayingo and Bugiri, among others as areas where the ADF has active cells operating underground to recruit new members who will be taken for training.
The Cantonment commander whose jurisdiction covers all the 11 administrative units that make Busoga urged the various counter intelligence agencies like the Crime Intelligence (CI) of the Uganda Police Force(UPF), Regional Security Officers(RISO),District Internal Security Officers(DISOs),City Internal Security Officers(CISOs)and the military intelligence, among others to straighten their antennas.
He was presiding over the handover of the Kiira Regional Police Commander (RPC) SSP Rogers Seguya to the new one SSP Charles Nsaba in a ceremony held at the Regional office On Thursday 4th July, 2024.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abbas Byakagaba transferred Roger Seguya as RPC to the tricky Kampala Metropolitan South based at Jinja Road in Kampala swapping him with Charles Nsaba.
Brig Gen Emmanuel Kanyesigye in an address tasked the new RPC and his team to strengthen on the teamwork spirit already established by the outgoing colleague saying criminals have become sophisticated and dangerous to the society.
“…imagine a group of machete-wielding youth can target and break through a resident and hack occupants to death or leave them with serious injuries and walk away without picking any item…”,said the one-star officer.
With apparent reference to the bloody demonstrations in neighboring Kenya where youth destroyed and looted shops and buildings, including a section of the parliament and Uganda’s ‘Uganda House’, Brig Emmanuel Kanyesigye asks security managers to be extra careful on what he calls propaganda.
He told the less than 40 invited guests, mostly police officers from the region, plus a dozen of reporters that the withdrawn Finance Bill 2024(of Kenya) was not the main issue but that there was already an undercurrent aimed at sweeping President Ruto from power.
The senior army officer explained that there are some people who have no idea how a state and its economy or security runs and so easily get excited with negative sentiments.
“…how do you burn a bank, cars,buildings,shops and parliament…does it solve the problem you are pointing out,do not use a hammer to kill a mosquito…”,he said in rhetoric.
The remarks appear to be in response to sentiments from some politicians who have started agitating the youth in Uganda to emulate their colleagues in Kenya to pour on the streets and protest against widespread corruption in government offices.
“…intelligence officers should be able to detect crimes and single out suspects because the law allows us to pick suspects who are planning to commit crimes…”, he said, adding the ugly scene in Kenya should not happen in Uganda.
Like they say, “bravery is not the absence of fear, but action in the face of fear”, Brig Gen Emmanuel Kanyesigye was all praise for Rogers Seguya for his efforts in curbing crime in the region.
Speaker after the other heaped praise on the dynamic senior police officer who grew up and studied in Jinja for his team work spirit with key stakeholders especially in fighting crime which had escalated in the sub region.
“…every success is hinged on teamwork and it’s not surprising that your superiors have taken you to a more challenging area where we believe and hope you will perform even better…”,Jinja RDC Richard Gulume Balyahino appreciated.
Gulume who is also the Dean of RDCs in Busoga (having been an RDC for 17 years in different places) could not hide his frustration with the judiciary on matters of fighting crime, especially hard core criminals.
“…time and again even after engaging with the judiciary officials, you see them giving bails to panga-wielding criminals who return to cause more misery and pain to the wanaininchi…”,the visibly frustrated RDC lamented.
To address Gulume’s concerns shared by the security agencies in Jinja, Brig Gen Emmanuel Kanyesigye announced there will be a regional security meeting for Busoga next week when critical issues will be discussed.
He told the gathering that the planned meeting is being done on the guidance of the new IGP Abbas Byakagaba who advised that officials from the DPP’s office and the judiciary are also expected to attend.
The Deputy RCC in charge of Southern Division Henry Kitambula shifted the blame on officials in the DPPs office for always allowing a mandatory bail for hard core suspects because they are ‘sleeping on their job’.
“…I am going to lead an engagement with the DPP’s office and the judiciary so that we work harmoniously, though independently because crimes and criminals affect everybody…” Kitambula promised.
Known for taking no prisoners, Henry Kitambula pointed out that some leaders in Busoga are double dealers who speak one thing and act differently on matters of crimes in the region.
Without mentioning names, Henry Kitambula who represented his senior colleague (Darius Naninda) stunned the audience when he claimed that the hard core criminals in the region have funders, political godfathers and lawyers who always fight to release them.
“…attaching a cash bail of 5M/= to these suspects is not a big deal because in less than 10 minutes the collaborators will mobilize the money and the guys are set free to return to terrorize people…”, he pointed out.
The region now waits to see the success story from Charles Nsaba who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from the noisy Kampala capital, the home of all sorts of criminals, including terrorists.
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