Police have reinforced deployments in areas affected by cattle theft as Inspector General of Police Abas Byakagaba assesses operational readiness, coordination and communication under a grassroots policing strategy.
The Uganda Police Force has reinforced security deployments in areas affected by cattle theft, with Inspector General of Police Abas Byakagaba assessing operational readiness and coordination among security agencies to improve responses to the crime.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said during the weekly security briefing on Monday that the IGP had assessed the capacity of security personnel and the level of coordination in areas experiencing cattle theft, leading to additional deployments in some locations.
“Some of the areas were reinforced with troops, and this means there will be a quick response,” Rusoke said.
He said Police was banking on the Sub-county Policing Model to strengthen its presence in communities and improve its ability to respond to incidents, including livestock theft.
Under the model, Police intends to establish fully functional stations at sub-county, municipal and town council levels, bringing officers closer to communities and reducing reliance on distant stations for emergency responses.
Rusoke said the plan envisages deploying about 12 general-duty police officers at each sub-county level, supported by the necessary infrastructure to improve operations.
The wider model provides for 18 personnel at each station, including an officer in charge, 12 general-duty officers for patrols, and specialised personnel handling criminal investigations, crime intelligence, child and family protection, and community liaison.
Each station is also expected to have motorcycles and communication equipment to facilitate patrols and coordination.
Police has already distributed more than 1,200 counter phones to stations to improve communication between officers and members of the public.
In April, the force announced the deployment of 1,275 counter telephone lines at operational sub-county police stations, urging the public to use the dedicated contacts to report incidents promptly.
The initiative is intended to make it easier for residents to alert Police about suspicious movements, livestock theft and other crimes without having to locate individual officers.
The renewed focus on cattle theft follows concerns over livestock losses in several parts of the country, particularly in cattle-rearing communities where the crime threatens household incomes and livelihoods.
In October, Byakagaba ordered the deployment of about 420 additional police officers to Kagadi District following reports of rising coffee and livestock theft. The reinforcement was intended to strengthen security across the district's 35 lower local governments, with each police post expected to receive additional personnel.
Security leaders have also been pursuing measures to address organised livestock theft in the cattle corridor, including improved rural patrols along livestock movement routes, enforcement of animal movement permits and the development of databases of habitual livestock thieves and suspected receivers of stolen animals.
The Sub-county Policing Model is part of a broader effort to decentralise police services and improve crime prevention, intelligence gathering and emergency response in rural areas.
However, its effectiveness will depend on the availability of personnel, operational equipment, adequate accommodation and sustained coordination between Police, other security agencies and local communities.
Police says the reinforced deployments and expansion of grassroots policing are intended to ensure that officers can respond more quickly when cattle theft and other security incidents are reported.