The Inspector General of police, Kale Kayihura, has issued a statement urging clergy across the country to keep churches, and more importantly their congregations, safe during the festive season.
While addressing Journalists within the Capital – Kampala on the general security situation of the country ahead of Christmas, New year celebrations, Kayihura on Friday pointed out the need for church leaders to deny armed persons entry to worship grounds.
““If someone is armed, tell him to find another place. There is no reason whatsoever to enter a public place with a gun. Even security officers should not be allowed near places of entertainment with guns unless they are on duty,” Gen Kale Kayihura stated.
Mr Kayihura was also quick to regret the 2017 “criminal incidents in which dozens of people lost their lives to gun violence, machete attacks and back to back women murders in Entebbe and Nansana in Wakiso District, promising more protection to citizens in the coming year.”
Churches aside, Police this week also embarked on community policing in refugee camps to sensitize the refugees and host communities on how to prevent crime in this festive season.
SP Josephine Angucia the police spokeswoman for West Nile region says the activity started on 13 December covering the refugee settlements of Imvepi, Omugo, Rhino camp in Arua and Lobule refugee settlement in Koboko District.
Gen Kayihura’s statement also comes on the heels of Catholic Church investigations into allegations that the Police abused the Catholic Parliamentary chapel by eating and excreting in it.
If the allegations are found to be true, the chapel will be cleansed before it is used again, Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga of Kampala Archdiocese said this week.
aaron@ugchristiannews.com
