Jinja: In a significant move to enhance community-police relations and improve crime prevention, the Kiira Region has launched a new community policing initiative in Jinja District. The program aims to bring policing services closer to the people, particularly in rural areas.
The initiative, led by Kiira Regional Police Commander (RPC) Charles Nsaba and Head of Community Policing, Commissioner of Police (CP) Anatoli Muleterwa, is part of the Uganda Police Force’s efforts to implement the sub-county policing model, as directed by President Yoweri Museveni in 2019.
The launch, organized at Namagera Police Post in Namagera Town Council, Jinja District, on Monday, March 3, 2025, was attended by local leaders, including Monica Namukose Nabirye, Speaker of Jinja District Council, and Kagoma County MP Moses Walyomu Muwanika, among others.
They pledged their support for the initiative, citing its potential to prevent crime, promote development, and bring stability to the region.
According to RPC Nsaba, the Kiira Region was chosen as a model for community policing due to its strong community cooperation, infrastructure, and other key factors.
“We are committed to making this initiative a success, and we believe it will have a significant impact on reducing crime and improving community safety,” he said.
CP Muleterwa emphasized the importance of community policing in promoting transparent service delivery, problem-solving, and community empowerment.
“This initiative is not just about policing; it’s about building trust and partnerships between the police and the community,” Muleterwa said.
As part of the initiative, 18 police officers will be deployed to each sub-county, along with the necessary equipment and resources.
In a related development, the Inspector General of Police, Abbas Byakagaba, handed over a brand-new Nissan Double Cabin pickup truck to the Kiira Regional CID Office to enhance supervision and mobility. The vehicle, registered as UP 7547, was received by Regional CID SSP Dr. Monday Johnson Agaba.
The donation is a testament to Kiira’s outstanding performance in crime prevention and problem-solving across the Busoga sub-region. Director CID AIGP Tom Magambo commended the region’s efforts and emphasized the need for continued logistical support to maintain its exemplary record.
The new vehicle is expected to facilitate quicker responses to crime scenes, improve mobility, and enhance command, control, and administration within the CID department. AIGP Magambo cautioned the driver and the Regional CID Office against poor vehicle maintenance, stressing the importance of ensuring the vehicle’s safety, performance, and longevity.
“This vehicle has been donated for significant use. Let us take good care of it because it has been given to you for effective crime investigations,” Afande Magambo said.
The Kiira Regional CID Office has been at the forefront of community-oriented policing, and this donation is a significant boost to their efforts. Dr. Monday Johnson Agaba expressed his deepest gratitude to the Uganda Police top management for their invaluable support in enhancing logistical capacity.
He said, “This support has been instrumental in facilitating thorough prosecution, guided investigations, and securing convictions in high-profile, capital, and minor cases. As a result, the region has emerged as the most effective in combating these cases across the Busoga sub-region.”
The community policing initiative is expected to reduce crime and violence while promoting community engagement and participation. The Kiira Region is set to become a model for community policing, with 29 other regions expected to replicate the initiative.
