BY: ISAIAH KITIMBO

 KAMPALA 

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 an aim of improving safety and security in Karamoja Sub-region.

The facilities have been constructed in the Districts of Abim, Amudat, Karenga, Kotido, Moroto, Napak and Nakapiripirit under the Development Initiative for Northern Uganda (DINU), a government programme supported by the European Union and supervised by OPM.

Each of the new seven facilities houses a fully furnished administration block, four self-contained cells, solar system, rain water harvesting system and has been provided with two motorcycles to facilitate Officers’ transport in conducting Community policing. In addition, a borehole has been built to serve both officers and the surrounding communities in each of the targeted districts.

Mr. Gonzaga Mayanja, Commissioner M&E, OPM speaking at the ocassion

At an occasion to handover 14 motorcycles to UPF in Naguru near Kampala on March 09, Mr. Keith Muhakanizi, the Permanent Secretary at OPM, said 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/services in the area,” he said in a message read by Mr. Gonzaga Mayanja, the Commissioner Monitoring and Evaluation – Local Governments at OPM.

Ms. Nadia Cannata represented EUD

The Head of Section for Sustainable Development at the European Union Delegation to Uganda, Ms. Nadia Cannata, stated: “We are aware that stability and security are preconditions for the social and economic development for the sub-region. For this reason, over the years we have continued to support the UPF in Karamoja to fulfil its mandate to protect the communities.

Deputy Inspector of Police Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Tumusiime delivers his speech

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Martins Okoth-Ochola, who was represented by Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Tumusiime, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, stated: “The UPF would like to thank the European Union and Office of the Prime Minister 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.”.

(L-R seated) Ms Pamela Kabahezi, National Program Coordinator DINU, Mr. Gonzaga Mayanja Commissioner M&E-OPM, Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Tumusiime, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ms. Nadia Cannata, Head of Section for Sustainable Development at the European Union Delegation to Uganda, and Mr. Tonny Ameny, Assistant Commissioner, Karamoja Affairs in a group photo at the UPF Headquarters in Naguru

Background

Last year, Office of the Prime Minister awarded contracts worth Shs4.8b to seven firms to construct the police posts and accommodation facilities in Morulem in Abim District, Alakas (Amudat), Lokori (Karenga), Nakapelimoru (Kotido), Nakiloro (Moroto), Apeitolim (Napak) and Namalu (Nakapiripirit). In addition, more than 500 officers were trained in community policing, human rights, and management of gender-based cases to improve their capacity to serve better.

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