Police tighten security in Kampala after Dusit attack

KAMPALA,

A regular visitor at Kampala Central Police Station (CPS) and police headquarters in Naguru, a city suburb, must have noticed changes.

The number of police officers has almost doubled with anyone accessing the premises being subjected to thorough checks, a change in tack just days after Al-Shabaab terrorists struck the dusitD2 office complex in Nairobi, Kenya, killing 21 people.

A day after the Nairobi incident, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Abbas Byakagaba, issued a memo instructing all unit commanders to be on high alert.

At the CPS, journalists who went to cover a press conference on Monday were blocked until police spokesperson Fred Enanga arrived.

Police officers at the quarter guard explained that their superiors had instructed them not to let cameramen in.

However, a police constable said police authorities got cold feet following last week’s expose by Salt TV, a local television station, of the security lapse at the CPS.

Journalists from the Mengo-based media house last week gained access to the police facility with all their gadgets unchecked.

The deputy Kampala metropolitan police spokesperson, Mr Luke Owoyesigyire, confirmed the new guidelines and that media houses are now required to send not more than two journalists to a police event.

THREATS
Meanwhile, city dwellers were for the most part of Monday morning treated to a terror scare after unknown people circulated text messages, audios and social media alerts urging Ugandans to remain at home because Al-Shabaab terrorists were planning to hit Kampala in two weeks.

Other texts claimed that up to four terrorists had been apprehended by security personnel and explosives and bullets found.

Other alerts indicated that Violet Kemunto, aka Khadija, a woman associated with Ali Salim Gichunge - one of the terrorists believed to have been shot dead in the Nairobi attack - had entered the country armed with explosives and bullets.

The alert described Ms Kemunto as a dangerous person, who kills without mercy; and who is wanted by Kenyan police.

It was alleged that her last phone records were traced to Uganda.

PANIC

However, Mr Enanga said the document was not authentic and urged the public to disregard the alerts, saying they were false and aimed at causing panic and destabilising businesses.

“Police will only release information, including terror alerts, upon accurate and honest acknowledgement of any real threats," he said.

"The public is asked to go about their business without any fear."

Mr Enanga further said there were no specific threats in Uganda but that security agencies would carry on with their surveillance and share information with their regional counterparts.

'PRETENCE'

Much as security has been heightened at CPS and police headquarters, a brief survey by the Daily Monitor on Monday showed that security in many public places, especially shopping malls, supermarkets, bus and taxi parks, had not been beefed up.

However, supermarkets including Shoprite, Mega Standard, Pioneer and Oasis malls had at least two security guards checking cars and bags.

Business people complained that security officers do not check those getting into buildings and only respond to thefts and other such incidents.

The check found no guards at the old and new taxi parks.

An officer found in a nearby police booth said their number is to small for the thousands of people at the parks and shopping centres.

He said the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) is the one to secure the parks and added that their meagre earnings leave them demoralised.

“Before you ask about the number of policemen, remember you people pretend to be paying us. We also pretend to be working,” the policeman said.

Mr Robert Mukisa, a taxi driver, said disagreements and other such incidents take place at the parks but that there is usually no police officer to intervene.

Another taxi driver, who identified himself as David, said checkpoints would cause more congestion at park entrances.

ROLES

KCCA spokesperson Peter Kaujju said security concerning the parks is the role of the police.

“We manage the area but law and order is done by police on behalf of the government of Uganda,” Mr Kaujju said.

The last time the parks experienced tight security was after the Al-Shabaab attacks in Kampala City in July 2010.

Security agencies invested a lot in both hardware and human resources after the twin bombings at Kyadondo Rugby club and Ethiopian Village Restaurant in Kabalagala, incidents which left 76 people dead.