No rebels in Mukono – Kampala Police

The Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) commander, Andrew Felix Kaweesi has dismissed rumors suggesting that a gang of criminals that recently attacked a police post in Mukono were rebels.

Central Eastern Regional police commander, Richard Mivule and Musa Nabende, Kampala East

According to Kaweesi, these were mere thugs who wanted guns to carry out criminal activities in the area and vowed to hunt them down.

Kaweesi however warned police personnel in the area that he was going to use an ‘iron hand’ to handle derailed officers in the force who had picked up wrong habits like smoking marijuana, gambling in bars and attending funerals at the expanse of their job.

Kaweesi was speaking to residents of Nakifuma in Mukono district at a security meeting. The meeting followed a recent attack on a police post at Nakafuma where thugs robbed two guns and injured two police officers.

Kaweesi announced that Nakifuma had been transferred from Lugazi Police station in Buikwe district to his jurisdiction in Kampala Metropolitan Area for easy administration. Two divisions, Nakifuma and Kasawo were created and would be fully facilitated.

Kaweesi said he recently cracked down on lazy officers and sent 1,200 back for further training. They will be redeployed to other areas after training.

Kaweei also pledged to investigate officers in Mukono who are reportedly engaging in buying and smoking marijuana, gambling and other criminal acts.

He condemned and apologized to residents over reports that police officers tip off suspected criminals about reports given in privacy by locals, which he said could lead to increased insecurity.

The force is reportedly preparing to recruit more Special Police Constables to meet the increasing demands of the force.

Other leaders asked for more deployment of police personnel especially in areas prone to robberies and cattle thefts.