Uganda Police call for more counter terrorism measures in Kampala

Police have urged Kampala Capital City Authority to make bi-laws making them lawful to enforce security checks in public places. Security checks became a common sight in all public places shortly after the July 11 bombing in Kampala Rugby club and Ethiopian village in Kabalagala.

But close to a year after the tragic incident in which 76 people died, police is now worried that security at many public place has become to relax.

The police counter terrorist squad command Habus Byakagaba says operators and proprietors of places targeted by terrorists have relaxed in checking people who access their premises.

A random survey has revealed that the tight security at the entrance and exit points into Kampala taxi parks are no more.

Equally suppressing was the factor that people are no longer subjected to security checks when entering big shopping Malls. Even security checks at churches are no more.

Moses Kafero a reveler at Kabalagala says pubs have got metal detectors just to show police that they care about the security but they are not battered to check customers entering or leaving the pubs.

But police warns that terror threats are not over yet and security should not be taken for granted. Byakagaba says that he will officially write to Kampala capital city authority advising them to pass a bi-law which makes it lawful to enforce security precautions in public places.

The managing director of Ethiopian village restaurant Mengashi Mami which was targeted by terrorists in the July 11th 2010 has welcomed the police proposal.

He however says police should work with the proprietors of public places to ensure such a bi-law is enforced.

By Mugisa Isaac Mathias

 

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