One killed, three injured in Bunyangabu cattle theft attack

Four people were on Tuesday night hacked by panga-wielding thugs who raided their workplaces in Bunyangabu district, leaving one dead.

The remaining three are currently hospitalised at Kibiito Health Center IV in critical condition after sustaining serious wounds inflicted on them during the night raid.

Police identified the deceased Robert Kasangaki, 30, who succumbed to injuries on the way to hospital. The injured are; Moses Mukuru, Ronald Mugave and another only identified as Musabe.

A Police report seen by New Vision indicates that unknown persons attacked the victims while they were brewing alcohol at night.

"It was a revenge attack allegedly orchestrated by people whose colleague had earlier been killed (mob action) over cattle theft," Preliminary Police findings revealed.

Police have since visited the scene of crime, gathered evidence - as another team of officers comprising the Police's Flying Squad Unit is now tracking down the attackers.

Meanwhile, Police in Lira district is hunting for a one Walter Owala, who allegedly hacked to death his three-month-old step-daughter, Farida Nyana.

According to police, Owala had for the past two months raised queries over the girl's paternity - until the fateful day when he ended her life.

As a means of intensifying the fight against crime, the deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Muzeeyi Sabiiti, recently announced a robust and elaborate plan to combat the spiraling crime rate.

Hotlines for local communities

According to Sabiiti, each of the police stations countrywide will have a counter hotline, besides the known mobile telephone numbers of the commanders, which he said are sometimes not reliable.

"Each household must have this counter hotline number. It is the one residents should call in case of an emergency. These numbers will be operational 24 hours, seven days a week," Sabiiti stressed.

Once this number is called, the police officer on duty is expected to alert the area rapid response team to act immediately.

Failure to respond to emergency calls by a police officer will Police officers have been circulating the emergency numbers (hotlines) whenever they go for community policing in different villages/zones. The same numbers are written and pinned on community noticeboards, including places of worship.

Village registers, maps

Sabiiti also revealed that they have intelligence information that indicates that when criminals rent houses in areas where they do not reside, they use them for surveilling their victims and the movement of security personnel before they engage in crime.

As a stop-gap measure, local council (village) chairpersons are being asked to register all their residents afresh to weed out criminals.

Police will also work with local authorities to mark routes and residences, which will make it easy for the response team to establish the exact location that may need help.

Sabiiti revealed that they will work out a plan to ensure that some roads are lit and bushes are cleared, arguing that darkness and bushes have been found to be hideouts for criminals.

The deputy police boss said they have in the past few months documented criminal gangs and dismantled several of them. "The process is still on going." As a precaution, Sabiiti advised the public to avoid moving with huge sums of money without requisite security contingencies.

He added that they have put in place a WhatsApp number — 0707114114 — to which members of the public can send text messages.