Increased rural insecurity requires extra Gov’t measures- Experts

Crime is rising in rural areas despite Police’ budget increments
and heightened efforts to bring services closer to communities
through newly introduced programs like Community Policing and
digitalization.
The 2021 Police Crime Annual report categorically indicated that
51% of crimes are committed in rural areas compared to 46%
committed in urban with rest along high ways.
The rate at which thugs are terrorizing homes in my village of
Nyamizi – Kyatoko parish in Eastern Division of Rukungiri
Municipality validates the above crime report.
While paying last respects to a senior community member and
former teacher at Kinyasano girls High School, Jimmy Kataherwa
(RIP), mourners heard spine chilling story of how the deceased
home was attacked by hurtles machete wielding goons same time
he was fighting for his life at Mbarara University Hospital.
Thugs reportedly did such in revenge since Jimmy had been
actively fighting crime and immorality in the village. Mourners felt
the home of a bold Pan- Africanist, transformative and
inspirational community leader suffered double agony.
As the rural communities continue to lose valuable properties
such livestock, food crops, household items at hands of
redundant and increasingly marijuana smocking youth, it appears
Ugandan law enforcing and security agencies remain indifferent
with nothing much to offer contain the situation.
The situation is moving from bad to worse like reflected in the last
two years 2020 and 2021where according Police Annual crime

report earlier quoted, thefts topped in a row signaling a sharp
increase from 41,950 to 43,583 cases.

Similar source indicated common assaults and domestic violence
ranked second and third with 29,317 and 17,533 cases.
In my community like many other rural parts of Uganda, crime is
so rampant that most families are destined to suffer hunger and
poverty as thefts of chicken, bananas, coffee, livestock like goats,
pigs, sheep and cows either stolen as whole or slaughtered and
carried as meat to Urban Markets are rising uncontrobly.
In my village, the death and absence of Mr. Kata commonly called
who was at the center of fighting crime, likely to worsen the
insecurity.
Mr Kata was one of the few highly educated who selflessly chose
to work within his community and will be greatly missed by
community churches, Local councils, Area land committees,
Security committees, School boards, Sports teams, Political
parties, Farming groups and several others.
Additionally, although thefts are not new, residents are being
troubled by more scarily new wave of organized crime where local
youths were reportedly recruited by Kampala linked hardcore
groups with connections to City Business men who provide quick
transport and ready market for stolen goods.
New Criminals target highly valued livestock and in big quantities,
household equipment like Solar panels and batteries, TVs and
generators, radios, wires and metals (scrap), motorcycles, Mobile
phones, and mobile money operators and several others.
Unprecedented acts of using nerve breaking drugs on people at
night have increased as well.

In a fast urbanizing area that turned a municipality recently but
does not have a single factory or an industry to employ youth.
Such has not only exacerbated crime but also increased
redudandacy and its associated ills like marijuana smoking,
selling of land to buy bodabodas, rapes, night attacks, HIV rates
violence and lawlessness.
The revival of sound and highly government subsidised rural co-
operative production centers like Mega Kagogo Coffee
Processing Plant formerly run by North Kigezi which unfortunately
is apparently lying idle presents would minimize employment
dilemma for residents.

Several stolen livestock from rural upcountry discovered in
Central Kampala at residential homes of business men point to
extent of widespread of increased Insecurity country wide.
The then shoot to kill order given recently by Deputy Inspector of
Ugandan Police, speaks volumes to heightened Insecurity in the
country.
It appears urban thugs are running away from harsh covid-19
induced economic conditions and heightened security in cities to
rural areas where they are reportedly introducing new tricks and
modes of perpetuating crime.
Corrupt law enforcers and judicial officers: Police and courts have
not helped the situation.
LC bosses and others who shield suspected thieves in fear of
backlash from relatives of suspected thieves contribute indirectly
to increased rural crime as well.
Ending corruption in cited government institutions blamed for
negligent tendencies that lead to poor investigation and
subsequently insufficient evidence to cause convictions is thus
the real solution..

Police Report quoted earlier indicated of the 1640 cases taken to
court, only 464 (28%) convictions were secured with 155
dismissals and 14 acquittals.
Besides reviving idle former cooperative owned production
centers and respective supportive farms should be considered by
the Central Government.
As a matter of emphasis, in my village, Kagogo Coffee Factory
which used to be the only and largest employer in the district, in
addition to more Polytechnic institutions and skilling Centers with
sound government funding should be established.
As for our community elders and educationists Mr. Kata and my
sister Prosy Tumuranzye Bakoraho who worked tirelessly to have
stable community both politically, socially and economically, may
you continue to rest peacefully in eternity?
Andrew Bakoraho
bakoraho@yahoo.co.uk
Writer, Researcher and Policy analyst.