Details Emerge of 116 Arrests in Commanders' Meeting Before Christmas Crime Spike

According to police reports, AIGP Frank Mwesigwa, Uganda's Police Operations Director, has called an urgent meeting with Kampala metropolitan police commanders to address Christmas security concerns. The meeting aims to tackle rising incidents of insecurity in the Kampala metropolitan areas, including Wakiso, Mukono, and parts of Mpigi district.

The gathering involves Regional Police Commanders (RPCs), Division Police Commanders (DPCs), and Officers in Charge of Stations (OCs) amid increasing reports of machete attacks and break-ins since early December. The Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) structure includes three RPCs, 21 DPCs, and over 30 OCs.

In response to recent criminal activities, police conducted operations resulting in 116 arrests across various KMP areas. Notable arrests include 19 suspects in Kitintale and surrounding areas, 30 in Kira Division, and 47 in Mukono for various offenses, including marijuana possession.

Local communities are taking the initiative, with Gerald Muwaasi, a leader in Goma Division, organizing residents to contribute 10,000 shillings per household for private security patrols. This follows attacks in several areas, including Kagala, Nakagere, and Bukerere, where some residents lost their lives to criminal activities.