Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in /usr/www/users/urnnet/a/story.php on line 43 Gen Katumba Shooting: Gen Lokech Lists 5 Mistakes Made in Security Response :: Uganda Radionetwork
Following his own observation while at the scene, and after reviewing footage from several Closed Circuit Television –CCTV cameras, Gen. Lokech says that there was a slow response from the police teams to the shooting. He attributes the sluggish response to communication gaps between the Security camera team and the ground force.
Maj Gen Paul
Lokech, the Deputy Inspector General of Police has listed five mistakes that
were made in response to the attempt on the life of the former Chief of Defense
Forces- CDF General Edward Katumba Wamala.
Unidentified
assailants riding on two motorcycles attempted to bump off Gen. Katumba on
Tuesday last week when they intercepted his vehicle along Kisota road in
Kawempe Division and sprayed it with bullets killing his daughter, Brenda Nantongo
and driver Haruna Kayondo on the spot.
Maj Gen Lokech, who was among the many security gurus that rushed to the
shooting scene has revealed that a number of mistakes were made before, during
and after the incident that happened between 8:47 am to 9 am.
Following his
own observation while at the scene, and after reviewing footage from several
Closed Circuit Television –CCTV cameras, Gen. Lokech says that there was slow
response from the police teams to the shooting. He attributes the sluggish
response to communication gaps between the Security camera team and the ground force.
//Cue in: “There was…
Cue out “…hostile actors,”//
Apart from the
sluggish reaction and communication gaps, Maj Gen Lokech also highlights gaps
in the security camera system given the fact that some areas in Kampala
metropolitan are not covered by the cameras. For instance, police say the 4.1km
distance from Gen Katumba’s home in Najeera and Kisota road where he was
attacked from is not covered by security cameras.
In addition,
Maj. Gen Lokech observed that there was lack of VVIP cameras from the command center.
Apart from the cameras that police have erected on roads, police say there
should have been VVIP cameras on their vehicles, which can send instant signals
to the command center in case of an attack.
//Cue in “what is…
Cue out “…of
the attacker,”//
Security says the assailants took advantage of the laxity after the general
elections to attack Gen Katumba. Gen Lokech says that the CCTV footage shows
that the assailants spent close to 50 minutes within the area fidgeting on the routes
to take. According to Security, the
assailants would have been cornered if there was a timely response.
Joseph Kato is currently a Master's candidate at Makerere University. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Mass Communication from Kampala International University, a Diploma in Journalism and he's also a graduate in Guidance and Counseling.