His assurance comes in the wake of renewed disapproval on the enrollment of university students at police training school Kabalye, Masindi for a two week crime prevention and skill enhancement course. Up to 1200 students started the training today
The crime prevention and skill enhancement course among university students will not be stopped despite receiving criticism from the opposition, Police spokesman Fred Enanga has said.
His assurance comes in the wake of renewed disapproval on the enrollment of university students at police training school Kabalye, Masindi for a two week crime prevention and skill enhancement course.
Up to 1200 students started the training today. The students are from Makerere University, Kyambogo, Uganda Christian University, Gulu University, Makerere University Business School, among other institutions.
Critics however argued that the course is tailored at politically indoctrinating the students.
But Enanga describes the fear as baseless saying that the course is a pro-active approach that equips students with skills and initiatives to address basic security needs of the beneficiaries.
“The students are equipped with skills and initiatives to deal with situations both mental and physical that enables them to work closely with the Police, Community and University officials in identifying and addressing crime, fear and quality of life issues,” Enanga adds.
These include basic counter terrorism training, safety related issues in campus like sexual assault, alcohol and drug awareness, cybercrime and security assessment in their daily life situation. He adds the course emphasizes basic means of security, perspectives on a range of policy issues like leadership, self-esteem, employability, and breaks the cycle of violence and crime.
Enanga says the course is voluntary and no one is forcing students to recruit for the programme.
//cue in..“The Public should not….
Cue out …Promoting peace countrywide”//
Enanga further explains that police says it is prioritizing community policing because it is easier to prevent a crime than apprehend criminals. Besides, police is mandated to detect and prevent crime in close cooperation with the population.
So far 2000 students have benefitted from this course and police vowed to continue engaging the youth and inspire them into creating impact in transforming their lives and of the communities.
Previously, Gen Kale Kayihura, the inspector general of police has declared that the police force was in preparation for the roll out of the community policing strategy countrywide as it seeks to build partnerships with different communities.
Dalton Kaweesa
Freelancer