Police to re-launch community policing

By Steven Candia

The Police working together with scores of local musicians will tomorrow (Thursday) re-launch their community policing drive in Kabalagala, a city suburb with a notoriety for drug trafficking.

A marathon will kick start the day long activities in the morning, followed by a march ending at Pearl of Africa International School where the activities will culminate with musical performances from a battery of local artists.

But the gigs will be intermittently punctuated with doses of pointed police messages targeted at the audience, calling for greater public involvement in security issues and the need for greater cooperation with the police so as to stamp out crime.

Addressing the press, police Chief Gen. Kale Kayihura said the force will be seeking to tap the power of music as a mobilization tool to rally the public.

“There is never a more enduring form of communication than music dance and drama,” Kayihura said.

“We must rid our communities of crime and there is no better way to do it than through community policing,” he said, noting that Kabalagala forms part of the drug trafficking belt which he said comprises the suburbs of Muyenga, Bunga, Kansanga and stretches to Salaama road.

More than a dozen local musicians among them Cindy Sanyu, Chris Evans, Maro and the manager of the singing duo Gudlyfe crew attended the function and assured of their participation in the event.

The Police Chief Political Commissar, Asuman Mugenyi, said there is need to cause an awakening within the public and thus the re-launch.

“There will also be a few speeches and the musicians have promised that the whole thing will catch fire,” Mugenyi said.