Kulayigye defends army on street patrols

The army will continue patrolling the streets of Kampala, city suburbs and other towns of Uganda until when the threats of post-election violence and terrorism are over.

According to Col Felix Kulayigye, the Chief Political Commissar of the Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF), the presence of armed soldiers and police in various places is an effort by the government to make sure that Ugandans are safe from hooligans who want to take advantage of the situation to destabilize peace and security.

"No one has a right to violate the peace of Ugandans. Our officers will continue patrolling the country until when threats of violence are over," he said at a dialogue organized by the Makerere University Patriotism Club at the Senate building on Friday.

The former army spokesperson asked the public to support the security operations because they are for their own good.

"The soldiers and police officers working on maintaining peace and security are Ugandans who have dedicated their lives for a better Uganda. We cannot afford to go back to the past because of a mere election," said Kulayigye.

‘Trained for a purpose'

Before the presidential and parliamentary elections, the police and army set up security checks at Namanve, Kanyanya, Kyengera and other highways to check vehicles and passengers over security reasons.

The officers stationed at these points are searching the occupants of mainly privately-owned vehicles leaving and heading to Kampala City.

In Kampala suburbs, military police and regular police men are on patrol day and night.

Kulayigye also urged the public to work with crime preventers in the various locations to get rid of criminals in their communities.

"I have heard people saying that crime preventers are unnecessary since we have the police but they were trained for a purpose. They are working voluntarily because they love their country."

Meanwhile, Kulayigye defended the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) for switching off social media during the February 18 presidential elections.

He said social media has a lot of negative effects on young people and can easily destabilize the peace and security of any nation because the information disseminated using these platforms is uncensored.

"I was forced to shut down some of my social media accounts because some people were misusing them with obscenities, pornography and gossip," said the army man.