OPINION

By Samson Tinka

In the last few weeks, over ten gun violence cases have been recorded.

The first one was a bodyguard killing his master who was a senior retired army officer, MP and cabinet minister. The person who killed the minister, killed himself as well.

A few days later, private security guards squared it on themselves. A month ago, women MPs fought with policemen for certain reasons. In the short video, one Woman MP is seen boxing a policewoman on duty. On May 19, a Police officer killed a UPDF lance corporal in Mbarara city for yet to be identified reasons. On May 28, 2023, a private security guard at Stabex petrol station on Entebbe Road injured two civilians.

Last week, a Police officer in Kabasaanda sprayed gunshots into his commander’s house that housed children as well. They survived by mercy of God. These events and others unmentioned, portray a sharp rise in gun violence. The combination of the above evokes fear plus threats to both the civilian and armed forces population. In order for you and I to sail through these tides, we ought to take precautions in a more professional, logical and systematic way by ensuring that we are safe and secure by being aware of the situation around us, something commonly known as situational awareness

Situational awareness: Perceiving, understanding and predicting

Situational awareness is critical in effective decision-making; especially in making safe choices. It involves being aware of what is happening around you, taking everything into account and adjusting your behaviour to reduce the risk of injury, death to you, your family or your coworkers. You should make decisions based on real-time experience rather than experience. Throughout the day, remember to pause regularly to make a quick, mental assessment of your environment. That way, if conditions change, you can respond, helping to reduce the risk of injury to you and those around you.

Know and respect your teams. We continue to see death between supervisor and subordinate. This relationship is vital. Managers that disrespect their subordinates struggle to hit targets and vice versa. Commanders that work well with their troops in terms of interpersonal relationship have won both wars and battles. Whatever the level one is in leadership, they should relate well with the lead.

Avoid confrontation. This is very critical for men and women who carry firearms. Men in uniform are trained to shoot to kill not to demobilise. The demobilise theory works on paper and especially for the Police. In practice, gun holders shoot to kill. That is why in training schools, while learning to shoot, trainees are told to shoot at the head and chest. In fact, the dummies have no legs. Therefore, civilians should avoid confronting armed forces. A gun has no sorry. You can lose your life in a second.

Do not stop at gates, especially in the night: Wrong characters whether thieves or assassins use gates to people’s homes as ideal point to shoot at their targets. This is because at the gate the target can be easily identified. When the gate is still closed, the victims can’t easily drive through. It is easy to drive away from the scene, etc.

Always call the gateman or any person at your home to open the gate a minute before you arrive so that you drive in right away.

Follow your instinct: In most cases, our minds, bodies and souls will communicate to us. It is important that we follow our instincts. If the body and mind say no to a certain journey, avoid it.

Comply with the attacker’s demands: In case you survive being shot, comply with the attacker’s instructions. Most people die while trying to hold onto their valuables. Try to memorise every event. When an opportunity strikes and you can escape, do so but this is very dangerous in case the move is unsuccessful.

Follow social medial for news updates. Most times innocent people fall into trouble. It is common in Uganda for a person to go a day without listening to radio news, check on WhatsApp or any other social media platform. Social media brings us news we would ordinarily not know.

Know Police contacts near you. Every police station has three or so numbers that never change. DPCs, OC station, OC CIID, CLO, OC operations have numbers that are meant to be on 24/7. In case you are attacked, call any of the numbers. The response team may save your life or your valuables.

Know the people that you live with. Always have a one-page form on which all new people in your homesteads fill their details. This biodata information can assist the Police to track and arrest somebody who was once a family member but has since turned into a criminal.

Read the full version at www.newvision.co.ug

The writer is a safety and security consultant