Police: Unit to fight urban terrorism created

By Francis Kagolo

The Police chief, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, has created a new squad within the force to combat a new wave of violent gun crime which has escalated especially in Kampala.           

Code-named the Crime Intelligence Squad (CIS), the group has started work across the country.

It replaces the recently disbanded Rapid Response Unit (RRU) which, despite a bad human rights record, had been credited for fighting fierce criminals.    

Police spokesman Simon Kuteesa explained that the squad was a brainchild of the constant review of police operations and processes.

Its aim is to provide the vital intelligence component to crime investigations.

"The IGP recently restructured the Crime Intelligence Division of CID, and created a versatile Crime Intelligence Squad to complement the work of the Crime Investigation Division in tracking down violent criminals in the country," Kuteesa said in a statement.

He however, refuted claims that the Police had merely revived the disbanded RRU.

"While it is true that the recent restructuring of the Crime Intelligence Division of the CID has led to impressive results within a short period of time, this should not be misconstrued to suggest that police has revived the disbanded units [RRU and VCCU] to address violent crime."

Kuteesa said members of the squad have been deployed in the various police regions, districts, and down to the police station level.

They will be commanded by the regional and district police commanders.

RRU was disbanded last year after numerous reports by the Uganda Human Rights Commission and Amnesty International implicated the unit among the worst human rights abusers.

However, since the RRU was disbanded, there has been an unprecedented rise in gun crime, especially robberies and killings across the country. 

And Kuteesa has expressed his optimism that the new squad will help curb the problem.

The squad started work last week when it tracked down the perpetrators of the recent murders in Mbarara and Kasese.

Early this week, the squad also intercepted and arrested armed robbers who were travelling in a Toyota Ipsum with State House registration number plates in Ntinda, a city suburb.