The Minister of Internal Affairs, Professor Ephraim Kamuntu, has assured residents of Ibanda District that the government will consider strengthening police deployment across sub-counties to improve crime prevention and response amid growing concerns over murders and cattle theft.
Kamuntu made the assurance during the opening of St. Andrew’s Church of Uganda in Nyabuhikye, where local leaders called for urgent government intervention to address the deteriorating security situation.
Ibanda District Woman Member of Parliament Jovrine Kaliisa Kyomukama expressed concern over the increasing cases of murder and cattle theft, saying the trend threatened the safety of residents and their property.
“We are concerned about the increasing cases of murder and cattle theft in our communities. Residents need stronger security measures to protect their lives and property,” Kaliisa said on Sunday.
She called for increased police deployment and faster responses to criminal incidents, saying these measures would help restore public confidence in security agencies.
In response, Kamuntu said the government would consider enhancing police presence at the sub-county level in line with President Yoweri Museveni’s 2020 commitment to the sub-county policing model.
“Government will consider strengthening police deployment at the sub-county level to improve security and bring police services closer to the people,” Kamuntu said.
Under the proposed arrangement, each sub-county would have 18 police officers to strengthen community policing, increase patrols and improve responses to criminal activity.
Kamuntu said implementing the model would help security agencies prevent crime and improve investigations.
“The presence of police officers closer to the communities would help improve crime prevention, strengthen investigations and enable security agencies to respond more effectively to incidents,” he said.
Kamuntu represented the Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oboth Oboth, at the church opening.
In a speech read on his behalf by Kamuntu, the Speaker urged religious leaders to support government efforts to improve household incomes and promote economic transformation.
“Religious leaders have an important role to play in mobilizing communities to improve household incomes and participate in productive economic activities,” the Speaker said in the speech.
He called on church leaders to encourage their congregations to move away from subsistence farming towards commercial agriculture and take advantage of wealth-creation initiatives, including the Parish Development Model.
“The church should encourage its members to embrace commercial agriculture and take advantage of government programmes such as the Parish Development Model to improve their livelihoods,” the Speaker said.
He added that religious institutions could help mobilise communities to embrace productive economic activities and contribute to national development.
Meanwhile, North West Ankole Diocese Bishop Amos Magezi commended Christians for their contributions towards the construction of St. Andrew’s Church of Uganda in Nyabuhikye.
Magezi said the completion of the church demonstrated the importance of collective effort in developing church infrastructure and strengthening the church’s role in the community.
“I commend the Christians for their commitment and contributions towards the construction of this church. Their collective effort demonstrates what communities can achieve when they work together,” Magezi said.
He also highlighted the importance of the church as a centre for worship, fellowship and community development.
The opening of the church brought together religious leaders, government officials and residents, with security and household economic development emerging as key concerns for Ibanda District.