LDUs back on the street, but only at night

SECURITY   

Some of the Local Defence Unit (LDU) personnel, who were recently sent to Kakiri first division barracks for a refresher course, have completed their training and they will be redeployed.

However, the LDU personnel will for now be deployed only at night and alongside the Uganda Police Force personnel, revealed the defence spokesperson, Brig. Flavia Byekwaso.

In a statement released today, Byekwaso noted; "owing to the withdrawal of the Local Defence Forces from active operations to go back for refresher training, the level of criminality has since increased especially during the night."

Byekwaso explained that this was after local leaders and the general public severally petitioned security leaders to re-engage the LDUs in order to contain the situation.

Following in-depth consultations with security stakeholders, Byekwaso said it has been agreed that LDUs who have undergone and completed their training, resume operations only at night in support of the Uganda Police Force to curtail criminal activities.

It was also agreed that LDUs shall participate in intelligence-led limited operations on specific targets on request and in support of the Uganda Police Force.

The security stakeholders further agreed that; "members of the Local Defence Force shall not participate in daytime enforcement of COVID-19 directives outlined by the Ministry of Health and the head of state."

Byekwaso implored the public to cooperate and support the security forces in the noble duty of ensuring that every Ugandan is safe and secure from any threat and all acts of criminality.

In mid-July, the army recalled the LDUs for refresher training but commended them for their role in reducing criminality, especially in the Kampala Metropolitan region.

There are over 20,000 LDU personnel, who were two years ago recruited across the country, and trained for six months to help in combating the rising wave of criminality in the country.   President Yoweri Museveni passed out the LDUs upon completing their training.