As you are all aware, on the 19.07.2023, the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), issued a travel advisory to their personnel, after them allegedly registering security incidents involving their personnel, along the Northern Bypass. They identified some of the violent blackspots as Busega, Masanafu, Namungona Lubigi, Bwaise, Kalerwe, Kyebando, Kisaasi, Nalya and Nambole, and recommended minimum travels between 10pm – 6am, along the Northern bypass.
In addition, although they indicated, that there were no safety or security related incidents along the Entebbe Expressway, impacting UN staff, they claimed the expressway was vulnerable for travel, and advised their personnel to avoid travelling between 10pm – 6am, along the Expressway, from Entebbe to Kampala.
As the Joint Security Agencies, we are concerned by the travel advisory, because there are no crime reports, in support of the claims. Regarding the alleged vulnerabilities along the Entebbe Expressway of poor police response, which varies from less than 1 hour to 2 hours, uncoordinated patrols, reckless driving and over speeding especially at night, dark sections along the expressway, we would like to inform all travellers and motorists who use or intend to use the Entebbe Expressway, that we have not registered any violent crimes, apart from a few serious traffic related incidents, along the Expressway. We have 3 police patrol vehicles dedicated to the Entebbe Expressway, 24/7. Several motorists have reported, seeing police presence along the Entebbe Expressway.
The patrols are regular, with zero hotspots along the Entebbe Expressway. We continue to work, alongside UNRA and Pinnacle Security, to help tackle any safety and security concerns, along the Entebbe Expressway. It still remains safe and the shortest, route from Busega to Entebbe, for motorists and travellers.
As regards the Northern Bypass, from Busega roundabout to Namboole, we have been registering pop-up crime incidents that we have responded to and cracked down. For instance, the operations targeting criminal networks along the Northern bypass, commenced in January, following complaints of car vandalism in form of car window smash and theft from vehicles, mugging of pedestrians.
‘’As a result, the territorial police units of Wandegeya Kawempe, Old Kampala, and Kira road, and Kira division conducted intelligence led operations to purposely curb criminal activities, of mugging, property snatching, simple robberies, along the Kawala junction, Bwaise, around Kibate area, Kawala zone III, Namungona flyover, Kalerwe flyover, Kyebando round about flyover.“ SCP Enanga said
He further said, ‘’our operations led to positive results as most of the criminals were arrested and arraigned in courts of law. Since January 2023, we have maintained security presence, along that route. In March this year, we disrupted a sack and rock throwing criminal gang that was targeting motorists at night.’’
We continue to maintain our deployment posture and evaluate our responses to calls in order, to ensure no criminal bubs or hotspots emerge. All our policing units along the Northern bypass and the Entebbe Expressway, have zero reported crime incidents involving UN personnel. We therefore, appeal to the UNDSS, to avail us with their reports of incidents recorded for comparison and follow – up. Failure to do so, we shall regard their travel advisory as another malicious and openly hostile communication, aimed at creating panic and fear, in the communities along these highways and the public at large.
As the Joint Security Agencies, we remain committed and dedicated to the safety and security of all Ugandans and visitors in the country.
By Dailystarnewsug.com reporter