Luti police post which was meant to serve the areas of Luti, Kyampagi, Kalagala, Gayaza A, Gayaza B, Kyakuduse, Kamenya, and Bukalasa villages, was closed in October 2017, after thugs raided the police post and stole a gun from the police constable on duty.
Luti
police post in Kasaali town council and Kasambya police post in Nabigasa
sub-county, Kyotera district remain closed for more than three years.
Luti police post which was meant to serve the areas of Luti, Kyampagi, Kalagala, Gayaza A, Gayaza
B, Kyakuduse, Kamenya, and Bukalasa villages, was closed in October 2017, after
thugs raided the police post and stole a gun from the police constable on duty.
Although the gun was recovered three months after the attack, the post has remained closed to date, allegedly due to a lack of personnel and finances to run the post. After the incident, area leaders wrote to the district and regional
police authorities to reinstate the two police posts to curb crime in their
communities in vain.
Muhammad
Nsubuga, the Southern Regional Police Spokesperson says that the police authorities don't have enough personnel
to manage the two posts and the funds to run their operations. But Luti
Cell Chairman Stephen Kawuki says the development has compromised the security of the eight villages.
//Cue in; “Tuwandiise...
Cue out…batuwade awo.”//
Kawuki says crime rates have been escalating because criminals operate without pursuit and residents find it hard to
travel to report cases at Kyotera Police station, a distance of seven kilometres away.
//Cue in; “Tusaba police...
Cue out…muluka guno.”//
Irene
Nanteza, a resident of Luti says criminals usually hide in the bush
around the abandoned police post, making it extremely risky for children
and women to move around that spot. She adds that packs of stray dogs
have also found shelter in the bush from where
they attack and kill domestic animals, and pose another threat to minors.
Muzafaru Senkima, a resident of Kyampagi village says that the absence of police in the parish
has forced residents to settle criminal cases such as rape, and defilement at
the family level. However, John Mzee Kyeyune, who donated the land and
building for a police station has given police up to the end of this year to
occupy the place or to use it for other projects or to sell it off.
In Nabigasa sub-county, Kasambya police post was abandoned by the constables
for lack of facilitation to run it. According to Experito Kirembeka, the councillor
representing Kijejja Parish, the officers worked for a few months and disappeared. He adds that the crimes such as defilement, theft, and others have become
rampant in the parish without police in place.
He says they currently use Katana and Beteleemu police
posts and Kyotera police station which are miles apart.
//Cue in; “Police ye Kasambya...
Cue out…ne kasambya.”//
However, Muhammad Nsubuga further says that before the
police posts are revived, residents should use the existing LC systems, the
Parish, and sub-county Internal security officers for any crimes and emergencies.
Davis Buyondo
Freelancer