President Yoweri Museveni has attributed the incidents of urban crime to what he called desperation by “detractors” who are worried about the strides made by his government over the years.
Museveni was speaking during the Independence Day celebrations in Kyotera district on Tuesday. His comments came hours after he launched the command centre for the CCTV camera project situated which will be housed at Nateete police station.
“We have had urban crime which has worried people following the number of deaths. We analyzed the problem and found where the problem had been,” President Museveni said.
“Terrorists had seen a weak point in towns where we had not concentrated. The 10 point plan I mentioned in my speech to Parliament will end any attempts at urban crime on a big scale,” he added.
After Kampala, the CCTV cameras will be rolled out until the whole country especially main roads and urban towns are covered, he said.
“Our detractors have been quite desperate. Writing letters trying to extort money from business people and i can understand their desperation. We are growing stronger and it is getting late for them to make an impact,” he told delegates and residents who attended the Independence Day celebrations.
He repeatedly stated that those behind the wave of killings in urban areas will be dealt with the same way the NRM wiped out the threat of armed insurgent groups in the countryside.
Museveni labelled the perpetrators of urban crime as cowards who can neither reveal themselves nor their intentions as opposed to what he and the NRA did during their armed struggle to liberate Uganda.
“Those are not fighters since they can not declare their intentions”.
He said that urban crime thrives on the ability to hide, but was quick to add that government is building its capacity to see, hear and smell as critical components of security infrastructure.
“They [criminals] have touched in the anus of a leopard and they will suffer the consequences,” President Museveni warned.
His speech also highlighted the projected economic growth but also placed emphasis on the need for households involved in agriculture to move from subsistence to commercial agriculture. This, he said, will not only expand their income but also ensure food security.
In her speech, the Minister for Presidency, Esther Mbayo raised a number of unfulfilled pledges made to the district by the President in the past including poor roads, upgrading of health facilities and a ferry for transport.
Museveni promised that government will avail funds (about Shs 12 billion) for a ferry for Nyangoma in the 2019/20 financial year.