The joint security taskforce comprising of Police and Military has today deployed armed personnel in Kampala.
These have camped on rooftops of all arcades and other towers.
The deployment, according to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson SP Patrick Onyango, follows intelligence from the recent violent riots that happened in November in and around Kampala city.
Onyango said that intelligence and CCTV evidence have shown that the people who were commanding the rioters were operating from rooftops of arcades to give instructions and fuel chaos.
“They used rooftops as observation bases to monitor movements of security personnel,” he said.
A fortnight ago, police said that security personnel who were on a routine patrol were pelted with stones that come from one of the rooftops of the arcades, pointing out the Nabukeera autoparts building located in Kiseka market.
“On 11th January 2021 at around 6pm at Kiseka market along Kyagwe road, security personnel who were on routine foot patrol were pelted with stones and on checking, they saw a man aiming at them with a bow and arrow and in self defence, they shot at him, he was injured but later died at Mulago hospital,” Onyango said.
The deceased was identified as Elijah Mukiibi and exhibits of the bow and arrow were recovered and exhibited at CPS Kampala.
Following the incident, security agencies today held a meeting with the business community and arcade owners to find solutions to protect the buildings, businesses, traders, customers and security personnel.
The meeting was held at KMP headquarters, central police station and was chaired by the Commander KMP CP Moses Kafeero and Commander Military Police Col. Keith Katungi and other senior security officials.
The meeting resolved that security should immediately take over and dominate all the rooftops of arcades and other raised buildings within the Kampala Metropolitan Policing area.
The military will also man access control to the rooftops and only personnel in uniform will be allowed through.
Hawkers have also been banned from arcades until further notice.
Addressing the press in Kampala, the chairman of Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) Everest Kayondo, welcomed the development and assured traders of maximum security as the country goes to the polls.
Although Thursday and Friday have been declared public holidays, KACITA said that arcades shall remain open and accessible to traders and customers.
