The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has partnered with the Uganda Police Force (UPF) to construct and equip seven community police posts and staff quarters with the aim of improving safety and security in the Karamoja Sub-region.
Development Initiative for Northern Uganda (DINU), a government program supported by the European Union and supervised by OPM, has constructed the facilities in the districts of Abim, Amudat, Karenga, Kotido, Moroto, Napak, and Nakapiripirit.
According to the police statement, each of the seven facilities is fully furnished with an administration block, four self-contained cells, a solar system, and a rainwater harvesting system.
The facilities have also been provided with two motorcycles to facilitate officers’ transport and a borehole built to serve both officers and the surrounding communities in each of the targeted districts.
On March 9th, Mayanja Gonzaga, the Commissioner for Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Governments at OPM, handed over the motorcycles to UPF in Naguru.
According to Keith Muhakanizi, the Permanent Secretary at OPM, the establishment of the community police posts will increase the footprint of police and promote peace and security in Karamoja.
“I am happy to report that the selection of the police sites was carefully done to consider economic and security concerns in the locations. These police posts will be very important for ensuring the security of traders and the movement of goods and services in the area,’’ he said.
According to Nadia Cannata, the Head of Section for Sustainable Development at the European Union Delegation to Uganda, they are aware that stability and security are preconditions for the social and economic development of the sub-region. For this reason, over the years, they have continued to support the UPF in Karamoja to fulfill its mandate to protect the communities.
According to Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Tumusiime Katsigazi, the Deputy IGP, the UPF would like to thank the European Union and OPM for continuously supporting police over the years, especially in the Karamoja Sub-region.
“The intervention has greatly enabled UPF to have tremendous achievements as far as enforcement of law and order is concerned,” he said.
Additionally, more than 500 officers were trained in community policing, human rights, and management of gender-based cases to improve their capacity to serve better.
