The Uganda Police Force is deploying about 420 additional officers to Kagadi District following a rise in theft of coffee, livestock and other agricultural produce, Inspector General of Police Abas Byakagaba has said. Byakagaba announced the deployment on Sunday, October 4, after meeting officers in charge of police posts and station commanders from across the district during an inspection visit.
He said each police post across the district’s 35 lower local governments will receive additional personnel, raising the baseline strength of affected posts from about six to 18 officers. “We received reports that theft of livestock and cash crops like coffee was on the rise. So, we decided to come on the ground to examine where the gaps are,” Byakagaba said.
He said Kagadi had been prioritised because of widespread security vulnerabilities in the district. The reinforcement will include personnel from the Criminal Investigations Department, crime intelligence and community policing, who will operate at the sub-county level and conduct regular patrols to improve police visibility and response to crime.
Byakagaba also directed police officers in Kagadi to desist from corruption, extortion and other forms of misconduct, warning that such practices undermine public confidence in the force. He directed officers to handle theft cases, including coffee theft, professionally and conduct impartial investigations to ensure justice for all complainants.
“As police, we shall not allow wrongdoers to interrupt our work. We are determined to protect people and their property,” Byakagaba said, urging residents to use the upcoming station toll-free lines and cooperate with authorities by reporting suspicious activities.
Byakagaba also announced plans to provide Kagadi District with a second police vehicle, alongside additional motorcycles for sub-counties and town councils to improve police mobility and response to crime. He said the additional resources will complement the deployment of personnel and help officers respond more quickly to emergencies.
The IGP also announced a new policy limiting police officers’ postings at a particular station to three years, a measure intended to address concerns associated with prolonged stay in one area.
Kagadi Resident District Commissioner Caroline Nanshemeza described the IGP’s visit as an important boost to the district’s security efforts. She said additional personnel and transport will improve the capacity of security officers to respond swiftly to emergencies and other security concerns.
Nanshemeza also said the visit was aimed at boosting the morale of police officers so that they can perform their duties effectively. “The IGP had to boost the morale of his subordinates such that they do their work with ease while remaining patriotic,” Nanshemeza said.
Kagadi District LCV Chairperson Ellygard Tumusiime welcomed the deployment but cautioned that additional manpower alone would not solve the district’s security challenges without proper supervision, equipment and structural reforms. Tumusiime raised concerns over alleged extortion, bribery and the release of suspects, particularly those accused of coffee theft, without adequate investigations.
He attributed some of the alleged misconduct to prolonged deployment of police officers at specific stations. “Overstaying in one area has fueled such cases. Police personnel have made families within their allocated places, hence giving more time to the family than to work, creating bias as they execute their work,” Tumusiime said.
He appealed to police officers to respond promptly to complaints raised by farmers and ensure that theft cases are thoroughly investigated. Tumusiime also highlighted mobility challenges, saying Kagadi, which spans about 150 parishes and 900 villages with an estimated population of nearly 500,000 people, currently relies on only one operational police vehicle for emergency response.
The security concerns have prompted several lower local governments in Kagadi to introduce community by-laws aimed at protecting farmers and curbing coffee theft. In Kyakabadiima Sub-county, local authorities introduced a Shs50,000 fine for anyone caught stealing coffee or buying immature produce, according to Sub-county Chairperson Augustine Ngomiranze.
In Burora Sub-county, local leaders introduced a Shs200,000 fine alongside criminal prosecution and also moved to address betting centres they associate with youth crime. However, Kagadi District Agricultural Officer Desire Mpalana warned that community-level penalties cannot override national legislation.
Mpalana said technical officers were largely excluded from drafting some of the local measures and noted that some of the penalties could conflict with provisions of the National Coffee Act. Meanwhile, police in Kagadi have arrested a 25-year-old man accused of stealing 130 kilogrammes of ready coffee.
The suspect, identified as Ayine Moses, a resident of Rukiri Village in Nyakarongo Sub-county, is currently detained at Nyakarongo Police Station. Ayine is accused of stealing coffee belonging to Abel Rugamba, a resident of the same area. According to police, Ayine was tracked and arrested after a police sniffer dog reportedly led officers to the stolen coffee.
Police were preparing a case file against Ayine Moses for transfer from Nyakarongo Police Post to Kagadi Central Police Station for further investigations by the time of filing this story. The IGP’s intervention follows media reports detailing widespread produce theft, premature coffee harvesting, unlicensed middlemen and the emergence of local community by-laws aimed at protecting farmers’ livelihoods.
The security situation in Kagadi had also attracted the attention of President Yoweri Museveni during a Friday NRM Parliamentary Caucus meeting, where he reportedly cited the district’s rising crime rate as a key security concern. The caucus subsequently resolved to step up vigilance against agricultural and livestock theft. After completing his inspection in Kagadi, IGP Byakagaba proceeded to Kyankwanzi District to continue with his inspection mission-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
