Government has promised tougher action against rising crime, but opposition MPs accused the internal affairs minister of avoiding questions on illegal detention and human rights abuses.
Prof Ephraim Kamuntu, the minister of Internal Affairs, presented the measures to Parliament during a plenary sitting chaired by the Speaker Jacob Oboth Oboth.
‘We are going to enhance our intelligence-led operations by the Uganda Police Force in coordination with sister security agencies,’ he said.
Kamuntu named the main causes of crime as land conflicts, domestic disputes, poverty and economic stress, alcohol and drug abuse, mob justice and violence linked to criminal gangs.
He said security personnel would carry out command assessments and redeployments, disruptive investigations, rapid response operations, and joint overt and covert missions.
If the situation worsens, he said, suspects will be detained only in gazetted facilities. Government will also expand phase three of the national CCTV project and support livelihood programmes such as the Parish Development Model, Skilling Uganda, Grow, Emyooga and Operation Wealth Creation.
He added that government would run public awareness campaigns on crime prevention and involve local governments in mobilisation.
Two senior police officers watched from the gallery: Frank Mwesigwa, the director of operations, and Erasmus Twaruhukwa, the director of research, planning and development, both assistant inspectors general of police.
The opposition chief whip, Paul Mwiru, questioned the continued detention of military officers and civilians. He also accused Kamuntu of fearing to discuss human rights violations.
Dennis Sekabira, the NUP MP for Katikamu North, asked the minister to explain 3,122 homicide cases. He said only 818 had reached court, while others were still in detention with investigations pending. He also asked why government discouraged mandatory bail, which the constitution provides for.
The Leader of the Opposition, Joel Senyonyi, said the report had gaps because it ignored basic human rights protections. He said Kamuntu’s silence on detention in ungazetted facilities ‘spoke volumes’ and had weakened access to justice and the rule of law.
Other MPs raised welfare and resourcing. Evelyn Ninsiima, the Rubanda Woman MP, said 51% of young people in her area were jobless and at risk of turning to crime. Bernard Otim criticised poor police welfare, while Dickson Kateshumbwa of Sheema Municipality said low pay left officers open to compromise.
Gerald Karuhanga of Ntungamo Municipality complained of a shortage of patrol cars. Linos Ngompek, who chairs the committee on defence and internal affairs, was surprised that vehicles for district police commanders had still not been bought, despite funds being allocated last financial year.
Fortunate Nantongo, the Kyotera woman MP, urged the lands ministry to stop issuing multiple titles for the same plot, saying this fuelled crime.
Vice President Jessica Alupo asked Parliament to support Kamuntu. Defence minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka admitted that unemployment and lack of skills drove crime and urged police to take suspects to court quickly.
Kamuntu again declined to discuss detained military officers, saying he lacked the mandate. He insisted the security situation was normal and appealed to all Ugandans to help fight crime.
