Following
a deadly terrorist attack in Kenya, the Uganda Police have tightened
security at key public places, especially shopping malls in Kampala.
Security has been beefed up in Malaba and Busia borders.
The Uganda Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura yesterday said
it is important to tighten security at public places to avert a similar
attack.
“What has happened in Kenya is very unfortunate and can happen anywhere,” Kayihura said.
By Sunday, the police and other security agencies had beefed up
security with more deployment of uniform and plain clothes officers in
many public places, including supermarkets and shopping malls.
Since July 2010, Uganda has maintained tight security in Kampala and
other towns, with the Police issuing terror alerts regularly. The Somali
Islamist al-Shabaab terrorists in July 2010 carried out twin terror
attacks that claimed over 80 lives and left over 50 others injured.
The al-Shabaab have repeatedly warned of attacks against countries
which have troops serving under the African Union Peacekeeping Mission
in Somalia (AMISOM). Uganda has the biggest contingent in Somalia. The
Kenyan incident, Kayihura said, is an eye opener about the real threat
posed by terrorists.
“When we issue alerts, members of public should not take them for
granted. The threats are still real,” he said, noting with dismay the
lax security at many public places, especially big supermarkets. “It is
not because of the Kenyan incident that we are moving, but these plans
have been underway,” Kayihura said and called for increased vigilance
from the public.
“Our real strength to deter such incidents and defeat these criminals
lies in active community policing,” he said. “Our personnel shall not
be caught flat-footed. We have been prepared for some time and we thank
the public for the continued vigilance,” Kampala Metropolitan Police
commander, Andrew Felix Kaweesi, said Sunday.
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