Territorial commanders have been tasked to aggressively respond to gun and machete-wielding attackers targeting police officers, soldiers, guards and security facilities.
The Inspector General of Police, Martin Okoth Ochola and his security counterparts indicated that he and his colleagues heading other security forces have resolved that commanders should not tolerate shootings, robbery of guns and attacks on security personnel as well as the security facilities.
According to Senior Commissioner of Police –SCP Fred Enanga, who delivered Ochola and other top forces commanders’ decision to take aggressive actions, they have been directed to ensure intelligence-led operations against attackers are conducted or swiftly respond to so that the orchestrators are eliminated at the scenes.
Since July this year, 10 police officers, soldiers and private security guards have been shot and killed by attackers who vanished with their guns. The slain police officers are Inspector of Police –IP Alex Wagaluka, Constables Moses Ongol, Ronald Busingye, and Lawrence Otim.
The soldiers are Sgt Simon Peter Eyagu and Pte Obed Tufeyo. The private guards murdered for their guns are James Amuriat, Samuel Muhindo, Jonathan Emuroni and Asuman Mutegula.
Ochola and his counterparts' directive on aggressive response comes a day after Uganda People’s Defence Forces –UPDF Spokesperson, Brig Gen Felix Kulayigye, said the Army and sister security agencies have launched a full scale onslaught on criminals interested in picking rifles.
"The criminals' attempts on our forces shall be met with full force," Kulayigye said.
Ochola has explained that while it is true that security and law enforcement officers are trained to prospect the public, they are also trained on how to use tactics and proportionate use of force under violent and unpredictable attacks like ambushes, attacks at check points and security facilities.
