A security expert has advised Jinja city to always be security cautious and mobilise communities to be vigilant.

Since security has intensified the fight against encountering terrorism in Uganda’s capital Kampala, extremists might switch to Jinja town, he warned.

“Jinja is the second largest city after Kampala and since our security has intensified by responding to detonate bombs before exploding, it was possible for the terrorists to turn focus to Jinja city,” Robert Enyakoit has   warned.

Enyakoit, the police officer in charge of counter terrorism in Kiira region, was addressing a security meeting of LCI’s and II’s drawn from Jinja city during an engagement to sensitize them on the emerging insecurity at hand of terrorism.

Held at the Jinja city council main hall on Friday, Enyakoit told the local leaders of how terrorism was real and urged the public to be more vigilant especially in public places.

The meeting was organized by Henry Kitambula, the Jinja southern division deputy resident city commissioner (D/RCC).

Henry Kitambula, the Jinja deputy RCC of northern division who convened the security meeting for LC1 and II's at the city hall on Friday. (Photo by Jackie Nambogga)

July 7, 2001 Jinja was a scene of a terror attack when bombs exploded in three separate places killing two people leaving 11 injured. Security linked the acts to the Allied Democratic Force (ADF) terrorists.

Enyakoit explained that the setup of the Local council system at village levels in the country was key in combating security threats especially terrorism and other crimes.

He said they mainly depend on information from village LCs to curb wrong doing.

“The setup of our Local council system at village levels in Uganda is good because leaders are able to easily spot wrongdoers and suspects which has enabled security agencies to encounter them,” Enyakoit said as he rooted for the promotion of the neighbourhood watch in their villages.

Besides planting bombs, Enyakoit said extremists use different weapons in the approaches to kill people through arson, shooting and kidnapping.

Also, terrorists use a number of tricks to deliver explosives in different forms like video cameras, mobile phones, dolls, radios and parcels in form of letters.

He added that they had devised others in form of cigarettes and warned smokers to always move with personal lighters instead of tapping fire from those smoking.

In case of a bomb blast, Enyakoit advised people to move 100 metres away from such a scene until the emergence teams led by police which is at the fore front to respond takes action.

Boniface Wadenga, the LC1 Loco village said his area was a hideout for criminals in film halls and ghettos during day.

Boniface Wadenga, the LC1 chairperson of Loco village who said his area is a hideout for criminals during day. (Photo by Jackie Nambogga)

“All the gangsters and idlers are found in my village and this is easy to be mobilized into extremism,” Wadenga said.

Similarly, Pr. Paul Batambuze, the LCII chairperson of Masese ward in Jinja city southern division said insecurity seems to be born in his area.

Besides hosting two Islands of Kisima and Samoka, Batambuze said his territory has slums with houses going at sh20,000 for rent.

He said most families were poor with majority being idle as a result of unemployment.

However, Kitambula implored participants to register all their area residents to get rid of wrongdoers.

Also, he urged them to monitor worship centres and happening places follow guidelines of using metal detectors