By KT Reporter
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Abbas Byakagaba, has urged the public in Tooro and Rwenzori to remain vigilant and continue cooperating with security.
Byakagaba made the remarks while addressing journalists after a security meeting with police officers, local leaders, religious leaders, and Tooro Kingdom officials at Mountains of the Moon Hotel in Fort Portal City on Friday.
Byakagaba was in Fort Portal for a follow-up mission following the recent coordinated attack on key security installations in Tooro and the Rwenzori. On November 1, assailants armed with pangas, guns, and spears coordinated attacks in the districts of Kasese, Bundibugyo, and Fort Portal.
The attackers burned police posts in Kasese, targeted a military barracks in Bundibugyo, and were intercepted while heading to Canon Apollo Core Primary Teachers College in Fort Portal City. Over 90 suspects were arrested, while 42 were killed.
Byakagaba appealed to the public to stay alert and work closely with authorities to ensure peace, stability, and security in the district.
The IGP said the Uganda Police Force, together with sister security agencies, has intensified operations in the region to ensure that peace prevails before, during, and after the elections.
He commended stakeholders for continuously promoting peace and unity, noting that collaboration between cultural institutions, religious leaders, and government structures is vital in sustaining security and development.
Byakagaba explained that security agencies are engaging cultural and religious institutions because they interact closely with communities and can easily relay important messages, as people have confidence in these institutions.
He revealed that investigations into the recent attacks are ongoing, and once the case files are ready, they will be forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
He added that police will soon share details about the groups behind the attacks and their motives, describing the perpetrators as wrong elements whose intention was to harm Ugandans.
Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Calvin Amstrong Rwomiire Akiiki thanked the Police and other security agencies for maintaining peace in the region and called for continued collaboration.
Joseph Mashuhuko, the Mayor of Fort Portal North Division, emphasized the need for security agencies to strengthen intelligence capabilities to foil attacks before they happen.
He asked the Police to increase manpower in rural areas by establishing more police posts. He also urged investment in transport, such as pickups for emergency response and motorcycles for regular village patrols.
Richard Rusoke, the Bishop of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Fort Portal and Secretary of the Tooro Inter-Religious Council, said religious leaders are advocating for peace and security, especially during the election period, by encouraging the public to observe law and order.
Rusoke appealed to the youth not to be recruited into suspicious groups but to remain focused and contribute to a peaceful region.
Fort Portal Central Division Mayor Richard Muhumuza also urged a mindset change among the youth. He said young people need to be guided to seek productive employment instead of remaining idle, which exposes them to groups with harmful intentions.
The IGP’s visit followed recent attacks by armed groups in the region.
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