By Innocent Anguyo
Police have deployed over 5,000 police officers to secure the city and its suburbs during the Uganda's Golden Jubilee Independence Day celebrations at Kololo airstrip, in Kampala today.
More than 10,000 people from all over the world are expected to grace the event.
The police officers, according to Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson Ibin Ssenkumbi, are manning all the routes to Kololo airstrip and all the venue access points.
Police, Ssenkumbi said, has been forced to raise its security alert a notch higher for fears that terrorists may use the Jubilee celebrations to attack public places. Police has since cautioned revelers against going to places without security control measures.
Access routes to the venue measuring about 25,000 square meters will be turned into one-ways to enable smooth flow of traffic to and from the venue.
"We will fill all security gaps and leave no room for error for terrorists to exploit. We call upon all the people to cooperate with the officers because they will be there to ensure their security," Ssenkumbi told New Vision.
As Uganda marks 50 years of self-rule, the streets of Kampala have been turned into a black, yellow and red affair as virtually all electric poles and some trees were draped with the Uganda flag.
Traffic on Entebbe road will be diverted occasionally to clear way for convoys of foreign dignitaries arriving in the country.
Police has vowed to clamp down on demonstrations in the city in order to forestall chances of the country's image being blighted among guests.
Security was already tight with Police and military personnel interposed within 50 meters of each other waving batons as they watched people go about their businesses.
Police has sealed off the constitutional square and its surrounding areas following intelligence that opposition leader, Dr. Kizza Besigye had his sights set on holding a rally at the square in the city Centre.
Last week Police arrested an army deserter with four other criminals and recovered four SMG guns reportedly used for terrorizing city residents.
Uganda has been the subject of terror threat from Islamist radicals following the deployment of Ugandan soldiers in Somalia as part of the African Union's efforts to pacify the war torn country.
In July 2011, the Somali militant group, the al-Shabaab masterminded terror attacks in Kampala killing over 70 revelers.
