Dark spots on Masaka, Mityana highways named

By Chris Kiwawulo               
           
Police have identified over 10 dark spots that are prone to violent crime and road accidents along Kampala-Masaka and Kampala-Mityana highways.

The Integrated Highway Police Command (IHPC) chief, John Cohen Arinaitwe, said they have already started occupying some of the dark spots, especially those that are renowned for armed robberies.

Most of the dark spots are valleys where robbers waylay unsuspecting passengers. “We are working with members of the public who give us information because they know the spots from where robbers waylay people. These spots are also prone to accidents,” he observed.

Along the Kampala-Masaka road, Arinaitwe cited Kibukutu swamp, Nabusanke near River Katonga, Nabyewanga near Kibibi and Kyabadaza as the dark spots.

On the Kampala-Mityana-Mubende highway, he cited Mpamujugo swamp between Mityana and Mubende, Kasanda towards Myanzi, Kabalanga about 12km towards Mubende town, Kalembe, Mayinja-Abiri and Kiyuni along the Mubende-Kakumiro road.

Besides Masaka and Mityana highways, Arinaitwe said the Northern Bypass was another dangerous dark spot where violent crime and accident cases are regularly reported.

“We have mobile police posts that are overseeing all these spots and our goal is to dominate all of them and ensure security and safety. These police cars comprise of officers from; the field force unit, community liaison office, traffic and Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department (CIID),” Arinaitwe revealed.

Arinaitwe, who took over the command of the IHPC in April this year, said his major goal is to ensure that they eliminate violent crime, traffic accidents, terrorism, public disorders, fires and disasters through ensuring 24-hour surveillance of all highways countrywide.

“People around Mityana and Mubende had reached an extent of calling these dark spots in their areas ‘Luwero triangle’, this cannot be accepted,” he vowed.