The construction of seven Police posts with accommodation facilities
within Karamoja sub region has started after the sites were handed over to the contractors this week.
The move is expected to see improvement in safety, peace
and security in the region.
The Police posts to spread in all nine districts are seen as a boost
to peace and security as government tightens grip to reduce disorder, cattle
theft and other crimes in the region.
The sites include two at Uganda- Kenya border points at
Nakiloro in Moroto and Alakas in Amudat districts. Others are Namalu Police
post in Namalu, Apeitolim police post in Napak, Murulem Police post in Abim,
Nakapelimoru in Kotido and Lokori police post in Karenga district. The projects
are expected to be completed within a duration of nine months’ period.
Milton Odongo, the Nabilatuk resident District Commissioner
says the intervention is timely but reiterated the need for value for money in
the project. Odongo urged called upon the leaders and the community to
supervise the works to ensure that quality work is done.
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Pius Ongom Okello, the National Coordinator Development Initiative for Northern
Uganda (DINU) says that the Police posts will be equipped with solar power, furniture,
two motorcycles, borehole and water harvesting system among others at the cost of UGX 6.2 billion shillings.
“Most of the posts
are situated in hard to reach areas and therefore we decided that there should
be accommodation facilities while the motorcycles ease transport,” said Ongom
in an interview on Tuesday.
Ongom noted that the police post construction component is a
support to improve safety and security of the region in order to promote socio-
economic development.
“As we all know the security situation in Karamoja sub
region is marred by violence, raids and attacks on civilian communities, this
is therefore a very timely intervention which I believe will contribute
tremendously in reducing in the region,” said Ongom.
He said government is committed to ending insecurity in the
Karamoja and will continue supporting the region by any means possible.
Local leaders in the region have described the initiative by
DINU and the Office of the Prime Minister to build Police posts in Karamoja region as
government commitment to ensuring the safety and security of the people and
their property.
Stanley Ebele
Freelancer