At least 2,000 suspected criminals have been arrested by members of the Local Defence Unit - LDUs in Kampala since their deployment, six months ago.
The development was revealed by Lt Gen Peter Elweru the commander of Land Forces. According to Gen. Elwelu, the LDU’s are doing a great job to end rampant crime and deal with criminal gangs in Kampala, but the impact of the arrests might not be felt if the courts continue releasing the suspects back to the communities.
President Yoweri Museveni ordered for deployment of the Local Defence Force unit personnel following a series of kidnaps, murders and assassinations in urban centres. In Kampala alone, 6,000 personnel were deployed due to the highest rates of urban crime were recorded.
However, despite the deployment gangs continue to wreak havoc in the city. Police records indicate that the city is witnessing an increase in murders, shootings, burglaries, and kidnaps, some of which have ended into loss of life.
Elweru who was speaking at a joint press conference by the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces-UPDF and Uganda Police Force in Kampala this morning, said the situation would probably be worse if no measures were taken earlier to deal with the cases of urban crime especially in the areas of Kisenyi, Arua Park, Katwe-Kinyoro, Kawempe-Tula, Nabweru, Kitintale, Mutungo and Kiwatule.
Maj Gen Sabiiti Muzeeyi the Deputy Inspector General of Police said that they have come up with five new measures to deal with rising home raids.
He announced the measures including; quick and effective response, distribution of telephone lines for nearby police stations, increased supervision, profiling of repeat offenders and engaging the Directorate of Public Prosecutions and the Judiciary on processes that will result into convictions.
This comes just two days after President Yoweri Museveni gave an ultimatum to police to present a plan on addressing the violent crimes in Kampala. This is an outcome of a series of engagements between senior police officers and other security agencies.
Also, Gen Sabiiti backed Gen Elwelu on courts releasing criminals saying in 2017 they profiled 79 hardcore criminals who were arrested but have since been released with no convictions.
