Security beefed up at border points ahead of Pope's visit

By Faustine Odeke

SECURITY has been beefed up at the border towns of Malaba and Busia a head of the Pope Francis’ visit to the country on Friday.

Metal detectors and scanners have been installed at various entry points where all travelers entering the country including vehicles have been subjected to thorough checks before they are allowed to enter the country.

The chairman of the Tororo district security committee Martin Orochi said all security agencies are on full alert to avert all kind of threat in the area.

“Government has provided about six metal detectors and scanners in Malaba border and more at the Busia border to ensure that all immigrants into the country don’t have any other ulterior motives intended to undermine any security measures put in place” Orochi said.

The move comes just days after Islamist militants attacked and took 170 people hostage at Radisson Blue Hotel in the Mali capital.

He says the measure is aimed at ensuring that the Pope’s visit is not interrupted especially by terror groups who may use it to their advantage to cause insecurity.

The Malaba regional police commander Andrew Kaggwa said all illegal entry routes have been sealed with crime preventers and plain cloth personnel to carry out routine security surveillance.

He appealed to communities living along the porous border points to be extra vigilant and alert the security personnel of any strange person that they see in their villages.

Margaret Asillo a resident of Amoni B cell in Malaba town council and who ploughs along river Malaba banks said the LCs and police have given them their telephone contacts for making emergency calls in case they see any stranger and suspicious person.