Bukoto Killing Puts Sub-County Policing Model Under Scrutiny

Police on night patrol shot dead one of the suspected armed thugs who raided Ssemwogerere zone in Bukoto Parish, Nakawa Division, last night, as residents called for increased security. According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Rachel Kawala, a group of three armed thugs attacked an unidentified businessman and his wife along Mukasa Road around midnight, held them at gunpoint, and stole their belongings.

The robbers took the businessman’s mobile phone and wallet at gunpoint. As they turned to demand the woman’s phone, police officers on motorcycle patrol arrived at the scene. On noticing the officers, the suspects fled and abandoned a bag containing suspected stolen property and a rifle, Kawala said.

Kawala said police officers immediately pursued the suspects and shot dead one unidentified male. During the pursuit, officers recovered one SAR rifle, one bayonet, four suspected stolen smartphones, two black shaving machines, and other items. She said the body of the deceased suspect was taken to Mulago City Mortuary for a post-mortem examination.

According to resident Joshua Mugerwe, it was a terrifying situation when bullets started flying as police exchanged fire with the thugs. “We were watching TV when we heard bullets outside,” he narrated. “At first we thought it was fireworks at the Naguru Skyz Hotel, because they usually do fireworks displays. But then we heard our neighbours shouting ‘thieves!’ We moved outside the gate and saw police officers chasing them and one suspect slumped down. We rushed back inside and closed the gate.”

Mugerwe said they spent the whole night in fear that more thugs could raid homes until morning, when they heard that one thug’s body had been taken away on a police patrol. He said the area has increasingly become dangerous, with more attacks on people jogging in the morning and women having their bags snatched as they return from work.

Pascali Mulindwa, a resident of Mukalazi Road in Ssemwogerere, said insecurity is becoming a major problem in the area. He said gangs increasingly come from Mulimira, Kyebando and Kikaya to terrorize residents. Mulindwa added that the thugs have grown bolder since the police post in the area was removed.

Justus Ahimbisibwe, chairperson of the Mukarazi Road boda-boda stage, called for more night patrols and increased police presence during rush hour. He said thugs often stand along the road and attack motorists stuck in traffic to cause mayhem. Both residents called on police to rethink the subcounty policing model, which merged most police posts. They said it is not helping, especially in Kampala, where quick response is needed given the crimes committed daily.

Inspector General of Police Abas Byakagaba rolled out Uganda’s Sub-County Policing Model (SCPM) to decentralize policing and bring security services closer to communities. Byakagaba operationalized it by deploying over 10,000 officers to sub-counties. However, communities continue to argue that the model is ineffective because it faces severe resource constraints, creates security vacuums in urban centers, and stretches an already understaffed force too thin-URN.

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