By Flavia Ajok
LC1 chairpersons in Masindi District have been urged to register new residents in their respective areas as part of efforts to curb rising criminal activities.
The call follows a series of robbery and simple robbery cases reported in Masindi town and its surrounding areas.
Solomon Mugisa, the Albertine North Regional Community Liaison Officer and Acting Police Spokesperson, says police have registered an increase in attacks targeting motorcycle riders and pedestrians, with victims being robbed of their property.
Some of the identified crime hotspots include the road between Central Works and Masindi General Hospital quarters towards Kihande, Kijura Road towards Academy, and Kamurasi Road.
Mugisa says police have intensified operations against criminal gangs operating in the area. He says at least 40 suspects were arrested during an operation conducted last week, with nine already arraigned before court.
He says police will continue conducting intelligence-led operations to identify and arrest more suspects linked to criminal activities.
According to Mugisa, similar attacks had previously reduced but have recently resurfaced. He partly attributes the increase to the growing movement of people into Masindi due to ongoing development projects.
He has urged residents to remain security conscious, vigilant and alert, while calling on LC1 chairpersons to work closely with their communities and monitor people newly settling in their areas.
Mugisa says new residents should be properly recorded in village registers to enable local leaders to know the people living and operating within their communities. He also urged residents to report suspicious individuals and activities to police to facilitate timely investigations.
