Martyrs’ Day: Police to Reinforce Security with Covert Personnel, Aerial Surveillance

Ahead of the much anticipated June 3 Martyrs’ Day annual celebrations at Namugongo which is set to attract over 4 million pilgrims, Police have revealed that they are making sufficient deployment to counter all sorts of security threats.

Some of the pilgrims have already pitched camp at the Namugongo martyrs’ shrine while thousands of others are still journeying from different parts of Uganda and other countries.

The event is among the biggest faith based commemorations on Uganda’s calendar bringing together believers in the Anglican and Catholic faiths to celebrate the 45 Christians that were killed for their faith between 1985 and 1987.

The Commander for Kampala Metropolitan Police, CP Moses Kafeero has said that Police is prepared to deploy in thousands to secure the celebrations against possible threats like terrorism and robberies.

“We shall be securing the venues, routes to be used, the parking and we shall have personnel on standby to respond to any eventualities,” Kafeero said.

He added; “We shall be having a formidable force of land security, motorized and foot patrols, aerial surveillance which is linked to our ICT. This means we shall be able to zoom in, identify the wrong characters and pick them”.

In addition to the uniformed security personnel and counter terrorism units, CP Kafeero said there will be plain clothed security agents scattered through the crowds to respond to any threats.

“This is a holy day and we expect people to come for prayers. I want to warn those planning to commit crime, that we are ready for them. Those who intend to disturb, our handcuffs are ready and the arm of the law will be strong on them,” Kafeero said while briefing the press at CPS on Monday.

He urged the public to comply with the access control mechanisms which have been put in place to guide traffic flow.

“I advise the public – if you could minimize the use of personal vehicles on that day and use public means to reduce congestion. However, we have gazetted parkings that will be in the traffic plan to be releases soon”.

He also encouraged people to carry light luggage as well as to avoid moving with valuables, as a safety measure.

On the issue of safety for the children, for those that intend to attend with their children, CP Kafeero requested parents to observe the highest degree of responsibility so as to keep the young ones secure.

He said that as a preventative measure for missing children, Police will ensure that a sticker containing a parent or guardian’s telephone number is attached on every child.

“Be with your children all the time. We don’t want a situation where the day ends and the children are abandoned. We are going to attach stickers with telephone contacts of the parent to children. That way, if the child is located, we can call you,” the KMP Commander told said.

Police have also availed a toll free telephone line dedicated specifically to complaints or alerts by the public at Namugongo. The line is 0800300108.

Previously, there have been cases of theft and other petty crimes committed by criminals especially in the aftermath of the June 3 celebrations. But Kafeero gave assurance that Police personnel will remain at Namugongo in the days following the celebrations, to keep law and order.

“We shall secure everybody until the last person has left Namugongo. We have made a detailed logistical plan to take our troops deployed there through even after the d-day,” he said.

While he acknowledged that the threat of terrorism still stands, he said that security is more concerned with preventative measures than countering what could arise afterwards.