Rising crime rates: What is fuelling the problem?
Mar 26, 2008
There is an alarming growth in the level of insecurity in the city and its suburbs. According to police reports, over 19 people have been killed by thugs in the last two months in areas around Kampala and parts of Wakiso district, especially Kireka, Kyengera and Nansana, Gayaza and Kawanda.
By Joshua Kato
There is an alarming growth in the level of insecurity in the city and its suburbs. According to police reports, over 19 people have been killed by thugs in the last two months in areas around Kampala and parts of Wakiso district, especially Kireka, Kyengera and Nansana, Gayaza and Kawanda.
A Pakistani car seller Quaisar Iqubar was killed in Komamboga by thugs posing as customers. In the same week, Winkle Karitundu Rutamirika, an actor, was clubbed to death as he entered his home in Nsambya. Still in the same week, a policeman Onesmus Karuhanga, was also killed by a gang near Naguru Juvenile Home.
Others have also been killed by thugs within the city and its surburbs. In February alone, about 10 people were killed by thugs around Kampala, while in March at least 9 have so far been killed in the city suburbs.
In Gayaza, murders and rapes are also on the increase. The small township has been hit by a wave of rapes and killings, mainly of girls between 15 and 18 years. Three bodies have so far been recovered, including that of Teddy Nantume, 16; Resty Namaganda, 17 and Rose Namakula, 16. They were raped before they were killed.
At the end of February, thugs broke into a line of shops in Manyangwa trading center and made off with property worth millions of shillings. They have also struck several homes in Manyangwa, Magere and Bulamu.
The increase in crime might be a result of several factors. According to local leaders, the reduction in deployment of Special Police Constables (SPCs) and the increasing abuse of drugs are the main reasons. “Removing guns from SPCs gave thugs impetus to rob again,†says Kawempe RDC Edward Ssekabanja. The reducing role of LCs has also contributed.
“Communal security has drastically gone down, LC1s are no longer doing their work, regarding security, as they used to,†says Lt. Ahmed Katono, councilor Kikaaya Parish and a local defense security official in Kawempe Division.
Most LC1 officials say their work is impeded by several factors. Among these is the fact that many of the criminals are children from the villages. “When you arrest somebody, their parents complain that you are arresting a son of the village,†said Bernard Walusimbi, LC1 chairman Kanisa zone, Kawempe Division.
The fast population growth is another reason for their less involvement. “We encourage land-lords to register all their new tenants. But many of them do not oblige. As a result, new faces, some of whom might be criminals settle in the villages,†complains Dickson Kabogoza, LC1 chairman Central Zone, in Nakawa division.
Gangs known
The killers and thieves operate in well-organised groups in order to cover for each other. “These gangs walk around the trading centres, waiting for whoever is going home at night. Some times they ambush residents at their gates,†says Simeo Nsubuga, the Kampala Extra Regional Police spokesperson.
Women who used to wake up very early and walk to the markets to purchase goods for their lock-up shops stopped when they became specific targets.
“One day I woke up very early to go to Kalerwe, but when I reached near the Bahai Temple, three thugs attacked me and ran off with all the money I had,†says Gertrude Nalwanga, who has a vegetable lock-up in Kisaasi. One of the women, Norah Kabanyoro, a resident of Kikulu zone Kisasi, was killed one morning on her way to Nakawa market. In some places like Gayaza, residents say they know the killers.
“They move in a gang and are always high on drugs,†says one of the residents. Wakiso district RDC Abbas Sseguya agrees with him.
Taking drugs is a favourite pass-time for many youth in many of the trading centres.
When this reporter visited Gayaza, a number of youth smoked bhangi freely in a small lock-up near the taxi park.
In Maganjo and Kawanda, Wakiso district, gangs are also increasing.
In Nakulabye, youth, some of them boda boda riders, openly shared sticks of bhangi. This was the same in Najjanankumbi, Katwe and Ndeeba, Kisaasi, Bukoto, Mpererwe, Komamboga and Kamwokya.
In Kireka and Bweyogerere, a gang broke into shops and residences near Gwatiro Hospital last Friday.
According to Kira Town Council Mayor, Mamerito Mugerwa, rising crime is a result of unemployment and drug abuse. “We have many idlers smoking bhangi and playing cards in our area,†laments William Kisuule, LC1 chairman Kasubi Zone 1.
Soft law on drug abuse
While people complain about inaction by the Police, the Police complains about the weak law against drug abuse.
The law governing drug abuse is not stringent.
Anybody arrested for abusing drugs may be imprisoned for one month. Besides, he can also get a Police bond, since the case against him is not considered serious.
“All the people we arrest abusing drugs are released by Police because of this soft law,†Ahmed Katono says.
“We cannot follow up those who have been arrested because it is useless. The law is very soft and they are eventually released,†says Sarah Namagembe, a resident of Bukoto.
“We are calling upon Parliament to enact a tougher law against drug abusers.â€
Way forward
According to local leaders, the old communal security system needs to be revitalised.
“LC1s should be able to establish security committees like the case was years ago. They should be able to identify every body in their locality,†Katono says. He advises LCs to watch out for people who have been released from prison and are now back to their villages.
“The only way we can solve this wave of insecurity is to work together with security forces,†Wakiso Woman MP, Rose Sseninde told a security meeting to find ways of reducing the crime wave.
On the other hand, RDC, Abbas Sseguya warns that a swift operation through the townships can rid them of the gangs.
Registering all the residents is also a solution.
“We no longer allow anybody to settle in this village without first registering with us,†says LC1 chairman, Munyangwa A LCI chairman Ronald Kiviiri.
Training of more local defence personnel is another solution.
In order to reduce drug abuse, Bernard Walusimbi, LC1 chairman Kanisa Zone, Kawempe Division, has invited counselors to help sthe youth engaged in drug abuse.
In Kisenyi, one of the most notorious areas of Kampala, councilors have tried to engage the youth in more productive ventures.
“I have in place sports competitions that are intended to occupy the youth and take them away from crime,†says councillor Salim Uhuru.
During these sports activities, it is not just play, but also counseling.
“Statistics are now showing that crime is going down in Kisenyi because we are engaging the youth,†Uhuru says.
The Police are planning massive operations to reduce crime.
Already, operations have been carried out in Kawanda and Kawempe, parts of Natete and Ndeba in Rubaga and Makindye divisions.
There is an alarming growth in the level of insecurity in the city and its suburbs. According to police reports, over 19 people have been killed by thugs in the last two months in areas around Kampala and parts of Wakiso district, especially Kireka, Kyengera and Nansana, Gayaza and Kawanda.
A Pakistani car seller Quaisar Iqubar was killed in Komamboga by thugs posing as customers. In the same week, Winkle Karitundu Rutamirika, an actor, was clubbed to death as he entered his home in Nsambya. Still in the same week, a policeman Onesmus Karuhanga, was also killed by a gang near Naguru Juvenile Home.
Others have also been killed by thugs within the city and its surburbs. In February alone, about 10 people were killed by thugs around Kampala, while in March at least 9 have so far been killed in the city suburbs.
In Gayaza, murders and rapes are also on the increase. The small township has been hit by a wave of rapes and killings, mainly of girls between 15 and 18 years. Three bodies have so far been recovered, including that of Teddy Nantume, 16; Resty Namaganda, 17 and Rose Namakula, 16. They were raped before they were killed.
At the end of February, thugs broke into a line of shops in Manyangwa trading center and made off with property worth millions of shillings. They have also struck several homes in Manyangwa, Magere and Bulamu.
The increase in crime might be a result of several factors. According to local leaders, the reduction in deployment of Special Police Constables (SPCs) and the increasing abuse of drugs are the main reasons. “Removing guns from SPCs gave thugs impetus to rob again,†says Kawempe RDC Edward Ssekabanja. The reducing role of LCs has also contributed.
“Communal security has drastically gone down, LC1s are no longer doing their work, regarding security, as they used to,†says Lt. Ahmed Katono, councilor Kikaaya Parish and a local defense security official in Kawempe Division.
Most LC1 officials say their work is impeded by several factors. Among these is the fact that many of the criminals are children from the villages. “When you arrest somebody, their parents complain that you are arresting a son of the village,†said Bernard Walusimbi, LC1 chairman Kanisa zone, Kawempe Division.
The fast population growth is another reason for their less involvement. “We encourage land-lords to register all their new tenants. But many of them do not oblige. As a result, new faces, some of whom might be criminals settle in the villages,†complains Dickson Kabogoza, LC1 chairman Central Zone, in Nakawa division.
Gangs known
The killers and thieves operate in well-organised groups in order to cover for each other. “These gangs walk around the trading centres, waiting for whoever is going home at night. Some times they ambush residents at their gates,†says Simeo Nsubuga, the Kampala Extra Regional Police spokesperson.
Women who used to wake up very early and walk to the markets to purchase goods for their lock-up shops stopped when they became specific targets.
“One day I woke up very early to go to Kalerwe, but when I reached near the Bahai Temple, three thugs attacked me and ran off with all the money I had,†says Gertrude Nalwanga, who has a vegetable lock-up in Kisaasi. One of the women, Norah Kabanyoro, a resident of Kikulu zone Kisasi, was killed one morning on her way to Nakawa market. In some places like Gayaza, residents say they know the killers.
“They move in a gang and are always high on drugs,†says one of the residents. Wakiso district RDC Abbas Sseguya agrees with him.
Taking drugs is a favourite pass-time for many youth in many of the trading centres.
When this reporter visited Gayaza, a number of youth smoked bhangi freely in a small lock-up near the taxi park.
In Maganjo and Kawanda, Wakiso district, gangs are also increasing.
In Nakulabye, youth, some of them boda boda riders, openly shared sticks of bhangi. This was the same in Najjanankumbi, Katwe and Ndeeba, Kisaasi, Bukoto, Mpererwe, Komamboga and Kamwokya.
In Kireka and Bweyogerere, a gang broke into shops and residences near Gwatiro Hospital last Friday.
According to Kira Town Council Mayor, Mamerito Mugerwa, rising crime is a result of unemployment and drug abuse. “We have many idlers smoking bhangi and playing cards in our area,†laments William Kisuule, LC1 chairman Kasubi Zone 1.
Soft law on drug abuse
While people complain about inaction by the Police, the Police complains about the weak law against drug abuse.
The law governing drug abuse is not stringent.
Anybody arrested for abusing drugs may be imprisoned for one month. Besides, he can also get a Police bond, since the case against him is not considered serious.
“All the people we arrest abusing drugs are released by Police because of this soft law,†Ahmed Katono says.
“We cannot follow up those who have been arrested because it is useless. The law is very soft and they are eventually released,†says Sarah Namagembe, a resident of Bukoto.
“We are calling upon Parliament to enact a tougher law against drug abusers.â€
Way forward
According to local leaders, the old communal security system needs to be revitalised.
“LC1s should be able to establish security committees like the case was years ago. They should be able to identify every body in their locality,†Katono says. He advises LCs to watch out for people who have been released from prison and are now back to their villages.
“The only way we can solve this wave of insecurity is to work together with security forces,†Wakiso Woman MP, Rose Sseninde told a security meeting to find ways of reducing the crime wave.
On the other hand, RDC, Abbas Sseguya warns that a swift operation through the townships can rid them of the gangs.
Registering all the residents is also a solution.
“We no longer allow anybody to settle in this village without first registering with us,†says LC1 chairman, Munyangwa A LCI chairman Ronald Kiviiri.
Training of more local defence personnel is another solution.
In order to reduce drug abuse, Bernard Walusimbi, LC1 chairman Kanisa Zone, Kawempe Division, has invited counselors to help sthe youth engaged in drug abuse.
In Kisenyi, one of the most notorious areas of Kampala, councilors have tried to engage the youth in more productive ventures.
“I have in place sports competitions that are intended to occupy the youth and take them away from crime,†says councillor Salim Uhuru.
During these sports activities, it is not just play, but also counseling.
“Statistics are now showing that crime is going down in Kisenyi because we are engaging the youth,†Uhuru says.
The Police are planning massive operations to reduce crime.
Already, operations have been carried out in Kawanda and Kawempe, parts of Natete and Ndeba in Rubaga and Makindye divisions.