President Yoweri Museveni has reportedly met representatives of community security volunteers known as crime preventers for four days in Rwakitura.
According to the head of crime preventers in the country, Blaise Kamugisha who spoke to SoftPower news after the meeting, “the future of crime preventers is bright.”
Crime preventers were recruited in 2010 by the former Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura to curb crime.
It is estimated that Uganda has over 10 million crime preventers with each village having more than 30 crime preventers, who report to their respective area police stations.
However, there has been speculation that the group could be disbanded now that its overseer Gen Kayihura was fired.
Concern among members of the public and within police circles during Gen Kale Kayihura’s tenure that crime preventers often overruled police in several parts of the country has been rife. One would hear of divisional crime preventers and regional crime preventers.
While speaking to journalists on March 12, police spokesperson Emilian Kayima reiterated that new police boss IGP Okoth Ochola would decide the fate of the crime preventers.
“We have not dissolved the crime preventers and no one has issued any directive disbanding or banning their operation with police. But what I can say is that the new IGP and his deputy shall sit and make a decision on crime preventers’ future,” Mr Kayima said.
Crime preventers have severally been accused of a number of criminal activities, but Mr Kayima explained that a resolution on their activities will be reached soon. Blaise Kamugisha also believes that crime preventers “have played a role in curbing crime inspite of mistakes by a few individuals.”
“It is true we do not have a policy to regulate activities of crime preventers. Our new IGP and his deputy will soon meet and discuss all matters regarding crime preventers. I cannot tell what they will decide but hopefully they would come up with a policy or make any decision on their activities,” Mr Kayima added.
Early this week a section of crime preventers from Karamoja region raised their disappointment with the firing of Gen Kayihura, wondering whether they remain relevant in the security circles.
Will the crime preventers remain engaged now that their leader Blaise Kamugisha has met the President? Were they assured of further operations and continued support to Uganda Police Force? We will keep you updated of details on this story.