Police issue beach guidelines ahead of festive season

In a meeting held at Aero Beach Entebbe on Friday, security heads led by the Entebbe DPC Samuel Mission, issued new guidelines to be followed by beach and bar owners this festive season.

Because of security concerns, swimming at all beaches will end at 6:00pm and any concerts/shows will have to end by 9:00pm.

According to Mission, a joint security team from respective security agencies will continue to monitor and patrol the lake, to avoid a similar incident that happened in 2015 when several revelers lost their lives while swimming.

Mission further revealed that Police has a list of entertainment places authorised to display fireworks.

"Fuel stations are required to safely guard the tyres on sale, such that wrong people do not access them," cautioned DPC Mission.

The meeting which was attended by the Entebbe Division Internal Security Officer (DISO) Erias Nimusinga, among other security heads, agreed that beach owners should sell alcohol in disposable containers to avoid drunkards from throwing bottles.

People intending to have fun at the beach were also cautioned to keep watch of their cars and property because criminals flood beaches during the festive season to steal and rob people.

It should be recalled that over 13 bodies were recovered from the waters of Lake Victoria on December 26, 2015 when revelers had flocked several beaches in Entebbe during boxing-day celebrations.

The mysterious incident left many people including relatives of the deceased, leaders and security heads shocked.

A preliminary Police report indicated that most of the victims did not know how to swim, yet others entered the water while drunk.

Entebbe is a place known for several sand-beaches, hence being attractive to many revelers more especially during holidays and festive seasons. This squarely attracts criminals more especially from Kampala who snatch, beat and rob revelers.