Terrorists plan Easter attack
Apr 23, 2011
SOMALIA based terrorists, Al-Shabaab are planning to attack Uganda this Easter holiday, the Police warned yesterday.
SOMALIA based terrorists, Al-Shabaab are planning to attack Uganda this Easter holiday, the Police warned yesterday.
The group, linked to Osama bin Laden’s Al-Quaeda network, claimed responsibility for the bombs that killed more than 70 people at Kyadondo Rugby Club and the Ethiopian Village, in Kampala on July 11 last year.
By Steven Candia
BEFORE Ugandans forget the twin bomb attacks that killed over 70 people in Kampala last July, Somalia-based Al-Shabaab terrorists are planning another attack over the Easter holiday.
While releasing the Annual Crime and Traffic Report in Kampala yesterday, Police chief Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura said their source of information was credible.
He said whereas the Police were doing their best to avert the attacks, the public should remain vigilant.
“The terror threat is real,†Kayihura said.
Speaking at the press briefing, Kayihura said the Police had concluded investigations into last year’s twin bombings in the city and had managed to arrest all the suspects involved, save for the top most, who is believed to be holed up in Mogadishu, Somalia.
The latest suspect, whom he identified as Mohammed Ali, the second in command of the plot, was arrested a few days ago in Tanzania.
And in his Easter massage issued later in the afternoon, Kayihura called for vigilance. “Note that as you go about your business, also criminally minded elements are looking for an opportunity to take advantage of you. You should, therefore always be on the outlook for any suspicious personor thing near you,†Kayihura said.
He added: “On our part, the Police, supported by other security agencies, have increased visibility in form of foot and motorised patrols, and general vigilance to prevent violent crimes.â€
The report indicated a general downward trend in crime, but with a spike in defilement and corruption cases compared to the previous year. There were 293 cases of corruption reported as compared to 95 in 2009.
Defilement topped sex related crimes reported in the country, with a total of 7,564 cases investigated in 2010, compared to 7,360 cases in 2009.
A total of 3,401 suspects were arrested in connection and taken to court.
Complaints reported to Police dropped from 282, 401 in 2009 to 262,936 last year, while a total number of crimes reported dropped to 99,676 last year from 103,592in 2009, according to the Police criminal investigations boss, Edward Ochom.
While cases under investigations shot up from 65,809 in 2009 to 70,394 in 2010, the number of cases taken to court dropped from 37,783 in 2009 to 29,282 last year.
Ochom attributed the reduction in the number of crimes reported to the heightened Police deployment and proactive policing. However, Kayihura expressed his dissatisfaction with the statistics, saying the Police could do better.
In terms of crimes committed, assaults topped with 20,578 cases, closely followed by theft of mobile phones with 11,908 cases and defilement came third with 7,564 cases. Other top crimes included obtaining money by false pretense, theft of motor cycles and robbery.
In terms of homicide, 1,761 cases were investigated, compared to 2,669 in 2009, reflecting a 34% decrease. A total of 239 cases of death by shooting were investigated in 2010, as compared to 280 the previous year.
There were a total of 357 cases of mob action investigated in 2010 compared to 332 cases in 2009 hence an increase by 7.5%.
“This is attributed to delay in justice dispensation, contrary to punishment awarding in African context which is instant thereby causing discontent among the public,†Kayihura noted.
On average, 8,326 crimes were reported per month in 2010, compared to 8,632 in 2009. Kayihura noted with concern the persistence of violent crime against children, saying more has to be done. He noted with concern the issue of case backlog in the CID, which he said partly explained the rise in mob actions.
“Due to the inability of detectives to put closure to cases has contributed to instances where people opt for alternative means of justice and this includes mob justice,†he said.
As a measure to cure the menace, he said, he has established a case back log and investigation monitoring secretariat in his office to regularly monitor the progress of all cases reported.
In addition, he said, CID commanders effective May 1, will be required to mandatorily issue status reports and updates to complainants. He noted that whereas the Police had scored in other areas, cyber crimes, money laundering, anti-narcotics and public order management are some of the more pressing areas.
The Police traffic boss, Basil Mugisha, said 2,954 people perished in road accidents as compared to 2,734 in 2009, representing an 8.1% increase.
He noted that since 2007, the road toll has increased by 13.8 per cent overall.
The increase in fatalities was due to improved condition of most of the highways and increased number of vehicles on the roads, coupled with unqualified drivers.
The group, linked to Osama bin Laden’s Al-Quaeda network, claimed responsibility for the bombs that killed more than 70 people at Kyadondo Rugby Club and the Ethiopian Village, in Kampala on July 11 last year.
By Steven Candia
BEFORE Ugandans forget the twin bomb attacks that killed over 70 people in Kampala last July, Somalia-based Al-Shabaab terrorists are planning another attack over the Easter holiday.
While releasing the Annual Crime and Traffic Report in Kampala yesterday, Police chief Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura said their source of information was credible.
He said whereas the Police were doing their best to avert the attacks, the public should remain vigilant.
“The terror threat is real,†Kayihura said.
Speaking at the press briefing, Kayihura said the Police had concluded investigations into last year’s twin bombings in the city and had managed to arrest all the suspects involved, save for the top most, who is believed to be holed up in Mogadishu, Somalia.
The latest suspect, whom he identified as Mohammed Ali, the second in command of the plot, was arrested a few days ago in Tanzania.
And in his Easter massage issued later in the afternoon, Kayihura called for vigilance. “Note that as you go about your business, also criminally minded elements are looking for an opportunity to take advantage of you. You should, therefore always be on the outlook for any suspicious personor thing near you,†Kayihura said.
He added: “On our part, the Police, supported by other security agencies, have increased visibility in form of foot and motorised patrols, and general vigilance to prevent violent crimes.â€
The report indicated a general downward trend in crime, but with a spike in defilement and corruption cases compared to the previous year. There were 293 cases of corruption reported as compared to 95 in 2009.
Defilement topped sex related crimes reported in the country, with a total of 7,564 cases investigated in 2010, compared to 7,360 cases in 2009.
A total of 3,401 suspects were arrested in connection and taken to court.
Complaints reported to Police dropped from 282, 401 in 2009 to 262,936 last year, while a total number of crimes reported dropped to 99,676 last year from 103,592in 2009, according to the Police criminal investigations boss, Edward Ochom.
While cases under investigations shot up from 65,809 in 2009 to 70,394 in 2010, the number of cases taken to court dropped from 37,783 in 2009 to 29,282 last year.
Ochom attributed the reduction in the number of crimes reported to the heightened Police deployment and proactive policing. However, Kayihura expressed his dissatisfaction with the statistics, saying the Police could do better.
In terms of crimes committed, assaults topped with 20,578 cases, closely followed by theft of mobile phones with 11,908 cases and defilement came third with 7,564 cases. Other top crimes included obtaining money by false pretense, theft of motor cycles and robbery.
In terms of homicide, 1,761 cases were investigated, compared to 2,669 in 2009, reflecting a 34% decrease. A total of 239 cases of death by shooting were investigated in 2010, as compared to 280 the previous year.
There were a total of 357 cases of mob action investigated in 2010 compared to 332 cases in 2009 hence an increase by 7.5%.
“This is attributed to delay in justice dispensation, contrary to punishment awarding in African context which is instant thereby causing discontent among the public,†Kayihura noted.
On average, 8,326 crimes were reported per month in 2010, compared to 8,632 in 2009. Kayihura noted with concern the persistence of violent crime against children, saying more has to be done. He noted with concern the issue of case backlog in the CID, which he said partly explained the rise in mob actions.
“Due to the inability of detectives to put closure to cases has contributed to instances where people opt for alternative means of justice and this includes mob justice,†he said.
As a measure to cure the menace, he said, he has established a case back log and investigation monitoring secretariat in his office to regularly monitor the progress of all cases reported.
In addition, he said, CID commanders effective May 1, will be required to mandatorily issue status reports and updates to complainants. He noted that whereas the Police had scored in other areas, cyber crimes, money laundering, anti-narcotics and public order management are some of the more pressing areas.
The Police traffic boss, Basil Mugisha, said 2,954 people perished in road accidents as compared to 2,734 in 2009, representing an 8.1% increase.
He noted that since 2007, the road toll has increased by 13.8 per cent overall.
The increase in fatalities was due to improved condition of most of the highways and increased number of vehicles on the roads, coupled with unqualified drivers.