Police to closely monitor World Cup viewing venues

By Steven Candia

POLICE is to closely monitor all public places screening the World Cup tournament in a bid to avert scenarios similar to those in Nigeria and Kenya where terrorists have targeted people watching the World Cup.

Police also aid the heightened measures which also includes registration and inspection of all viewing places, profiling and vetting of employees and workers in such places and conduction security audits of all entertainment places among others will also help avert a repeat of the July 2010 scenario in which terrorists blew up people watching the world cup finals in two places in the city.

Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said the measures were borne out of the realization that the games are being played during night hours and that the increased activities are likely vulnerable to acts of terrorism and other crimes such as assaults, arson, burglary, theft, sexual, and child related offences and road accidents among others.

“This therefore, calls for implementation of well-coordinated security plans with venue owners, event organizers and other stakeholders to secure the World Cup season,” Enanga said.

 The Uganda Police Force supported by its sister security agencies under the combined joint task forces, he said, will guarantee security during the month long event.

“This basically is to avoid a repeat of the 2010 World Cup Kampala bombings where several people lost their lives and hundreds sustained injuries in the twin bombings at the Kyadondo Rugby Club and the Ethiopian village restaurant by the Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab militants,” he said.

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A morgue attendant walk past bodies of victims gathered in Mpeketoni, in Lamu County after some 50 heavily-armed gunmen attacked the town near the coastal island and popular tourist resort of Lamu the night before. AFP Photo

The task force bringing together various agencies will deploy and maintain security at target areas including; border crossing points and in places in the entertainment, hospitality and transport industry or sectors among others.

Consequently, he said, security measures will be strictly observed during and immediately after the World Cup season. Security personnel deployed at public places, he said, must be capable to everybody accessing the premises. 

Secondly, all places should put in place access control measures such as metal detectors at all entrance points in addition to installing security lights and alarms.

Other measures include installing and maintaining full time security lighting systems, all trashcans/other containers being restricted to a minimum and ensuring that firearms and any other dangerous weapons are not allowed in all these places.

Ensure enhancement of community policing initiatives in close cooperation with the local authorities and the public at large. Fans should move in groups, and also use passwords only known to them.

AT least 14 people were killed when an explosion went off at a World Cup viewing site in Damaturu, Nigeria on Tuesday night, injuring scores, prompting the government to advise members of public to avoid gathering in public places to view the games.

Similarly in Kenya on Monday suspected Al-Shabaab militants raided the coastal town of Mpeketoni as people watched the games, butchering up to 50 people, maiming and injuring others.