Kampala Central Member of Parliament, Hon Muhammad Nsereko, says police should have Global Positioning System (GPS) trackers on their guns.
“We need to embrace technology in security. We would have followed these assailants since they went away with the guns they used on the police officers,” Nsereko said.
He was responding to a statement made by the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga. The LoP demanded a comprehensive report on the killing of police officers at Busiika Police Station on Sunday, 30 October 2022.
Unknown assailants shot and killed Police officers, Alex Wagaluka, the in-charge of Busiika’s Criminal Investigations Department – CID, and police constable, Moses Ongol. The assailants took two guns.
Two other police officers, Adrian Ochom and Stephen Odama were critically injured following the attack and rushed to Bombo Military General Hospital for medical attention.
“Is the country under attack? I saw the police spokesperson giving a nomenclature of a rebel group; we need a statement of what is happening in this country,” Mpuuga said.
The Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Anita Among, dismissed fears of a formation of a rebel group and assured the House that the Office of the Prime Minister would make a statement to Parliament about the findings of the investigations as soon as possible.
“Back to what the Leader of Opposition was saying, at least as far as I know, we still have government and we are not under attack,” she said.
Police reports indicate that the assailants also burnt several case files and attempted to burn the station before the fire was extinguished by the community at Busiika Town Council.
The Speaker there is a need to have police patrol vehicles following the directive by the President to remove roadblocks.
She appealed to Government to ensure that there are adequate Police Patrol cars to respond to such instances.
“The money that was passed to buy these Police Patrol vehicles has not been released,” she noted, emphasising the need to have support towards the police increased.
She asked the State Minister for Finance, Henry Musasizi, to table evidence that the Ministry of Finance has so far released a 50% of budget allocation to the police as appropriated by Parliament.
Citing another incident of a fire outbreak at Salama School for the Blind in Mukono district which claimed the lives of 11 children, Hon. Nsereko inquired about the efficacy of the surveillance cameras.
In response, the Speaker directed the Minister of Internal Affairs to present a statement on the surveillance cameras.
“How many were bought, where are they located, how much was spent, who were the suppliers,” she noted.
Hon Alex Ruhunda, the Chairperson Parliamentary Forum on Road Safety, also asked the Ministry of Finance to update the House and the country on the releases to Police towards Road Safety.
He is concerned that the number of road carnage in the country is increasing.
Kira Municipality, Hon Ssemujju Nganda, said that whereas there is a need to have the Budget for the Police increased, the funds that have been released must be accounted for.
He cited an incident where the UPDF reportedly imported uniforms for its officers “that do not fit them”.
In July 2022, a gang of machete-wielding assailants attacked and hacked police officer, Josephat Twinamastko and severely injured his colleague, Ronald Busingye who were manning a checkpoint at Kiwumpa Village in Luwero District.
The assailants torched the truck which was parked near the checkpoint before they fled the scene with two guns.
