Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has urged residents to form neighbourhood watch groups to help counter a rising wave of violence in their communities.
Several urban centres across the country have recently reported an increase in crime, including machete attacks, murders, violent robberies and rape. Some of the latest incidents have been recorded in Kakumiro district, Nabbanja’s home constituency.
Addressing a security meeting in Kakumiro on Sunday, the premier, who also serves as the district Woman MP, called on residents to organise community-based surveillance groups to deter criminal activity.
On February 27, unknown assailants attacked the home of Geoffrey Masagazi in Kakumiro, injuring four people, including his wife Victoria Namulinde, who later died, their two young children and a housemaid.
The survivors were rushed to Mubende Regional Referral Hospital for treatment. In a separate incident on Saturday, two more residents were seriously injured. The victims were identified as Arthur Vianey Sserunjogi, an employee of MK-KOPA in Kakumiro town council, and Shifah Kyaligonza, an elderly resident of Masonde.
Nabbanja urged residents to remain vigilant, avoid moving alone at night and work closely with security agencies to identify suspicious individuals. She said the formation of neighbourhood watch groups would strengthen community surveillance and discourage criminals from targeting vulnerable households.
The Prime Minister also appealed to bar owners and operators of public places to exercise caution regarding the individuals they serve, warning that some criminals could be using such venues to plan attacks.
She assured residents that security had been reinforced, with additional personnel deployed from Kampala, Hoima and within the district to stabilise the situation. The meeting was attended by senior security officials from Kampala, Hoima and Kakumiro, as well as the resident district commissioner.
Local officials commended Nabbanja for her swift intervention and commitment to restoring calm in the district. The meeting ended with renewed calls for heightened vigilance and stronger collaboration between communities and security agencies to address the growing insecurity.
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