URN.Police have rejected calls by residents led by the area LC 1 Chairman Donozio Kawooya to relocate the roadblock from the swamp or near bushes to the trading center for the safety of its men.
The police checkpoint at Kiwumpa village in Luwero district along Kampala –Gulu highway has returned days after it was suspended following an attack on police officers while on duty last week. Unknown assailants armed with machetes attacked two Field Force Unit-FFU constables deployed to guard traffic officers at the checkpoint on Monday last week.
The assailants cut police constables Josephat Twinamatsiko and Ronald Busingye on the face and head and bank respectively and made off with their firearms. Busingye died on the way to Luwero hospital and was buried last week. As a result, the police leadership decided to suspend the roadblock. https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-1885173889378683&output=html&h=345&adk=1590975256&adf=921249380&pi=t.aa~a.4031299446~i.3~rp.1&w=414&lmt=1659439105&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=9833304535&psa=1&ad_type=text_image&format=414×345&url=https%3A%2F%2Fugandaradionetwork.net%2Fstory%2F-more-deployment-as-luwero-police-road-block-resumes-operation-after-attack&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=320&rw=384&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&dt=1659439105713&bpp=3&bdt=10489&idt=-M&shv=r20220727&mjsv=m202207260101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D2d281e30e10a91ef-225382dd6dd400e5%3AT%3D1658854579%3ART%3D1658854579%3AS%3DALNI_Ma3pQhWEFqi1uvKPiG7j7X-yLERkw&prev_fmts=384×1417%2C414x345%2C414x345%2C0x0%2C414x345&nras=3&correlator=3143595496714&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=394590582.1657529785&ga_sid=1659439100&ga_hid=1132236240&ga_fc=1&u_tz=180&u_his=25&u_h=896&u_w=414&u_ah=896&u_aw=414&u_cd=32&u_sd=2&adx=0&ady=1818&biw=414&bih=715&scr_x=0&scr_y=456&eid=44759876%2C44759927%2C44759837%2C44763505%2C44760912%2C42531605%2C31062930&oid=2&pvsid=1781793187087117&tmod=1159281289&nvt=1&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fugandaradionetwork.net%2Fa%2Farchive.php%3FstatusId%3D4%26message%5B%5D%3D5&eae=0&fc=384&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C414%2C0%2C414%2C896%2C414%2C829&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=6&uci=a!6&btvi=4&fsb=1&xpc=fGyaAZcqEx&p=https%3A//ugandaradionetwork.net&dtd=11
However, on Monday, police reinstated the roadblock and deployed five more armed FFU officers to ensure the safety of the two traffic officers on duty. The Police has also deployed a standby Police Patrol at the checkpoint. Police have rejected calls by residents led by the area LC 1 Chairman Donozio Kawooya to relocate the roadblock from the swamp or near bushes to the trading center for the safety of its men.
Living Twazagye, the Luwero District Police Commander explained the roadblock was established at the spot to stop rampant accidents. Twazagye says that by the time the checkpoint was established, atleast 42 persons had died there, adding that 21 people perished in one accident.
“It’s true we have resumed operations but with more force and we shall improve it further to ensure Policemen operate in a safe environment but we can’t relocate it,” Twazagye said. Samuel Musisi, a resident said that Policemen are now very cautious about pedestrians including nearby farmers who move with their farm tools.
“They look at you with keen eyes and now we fear to pass there on foot with farm tools. Hopefully they will tone down and understand that for us we are not a threat to them,” Musisi said. Police are also reported to have beefed up security at all roadblocks along the road to avoid a repeat of the Monday attack. https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-1885173889378683&output=html&h=345&adk=1590975256&adf=3638889734&pi=t.aa~a.4031299446~i.15~rp.1&w=414&lmt=1659439105&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=9833304535&psa=1&ad_type=text_image&format=414×345&url=https%3A%2F%2Fugandaradionetwork.net%2Fstory%2F-more-deployment-as-luwero-police-road-block-resumes-operation-after-attack&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=320&rw=384&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&dt=1659439105713&bpp=2&bdt=10489&idt=-M&shv=r20220727&mjsv=m202207260101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D2d281e30e10a91ef-225382dd6dd400e5%3AT%3D1658854579%3ART%3D1658854579%3AS%3DALNI_Ma3pQhWEFqi1uvKPiG7j7X-yLERkw&prev_fmts=384×1417%2C414x345%2C414x345%2C0x0%2C414x345%2C414x345&nras=4&correlator=3143595496714&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=394590582.1657529785&ga_sid=1659439100&ga_hid=1132236240&ga_fc=1&u_tz=180&u_his=25&u_h=896&u_w=414&u_ah=896&u_aw=414&u_cd=32&u_sd=2&adx=0&ady=3003&biw=414&bih=715&scr_x=0&scr_y=456&eid=44759876%2C44759927%2C44759837%2C44763505%2C44760912%2C42531605%2C31062930&oid=2&pvsid=1781793187087117&tmod=1159281289&nvt=1&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fugandaradionetwork.net%2Fa%2Farchive.php%3FstatusId%3D4%26message%5B%5D%3D5&eae=0&fc=384&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C414%2C0%2C414%2C896%2C414%2C829&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=7&uci=a!7&btvi=5&fsb=1&xpc=qUGK6mXKm4&p=https%3A//ugandaradionetwork.net&dtd=15
Erastus Kibirango, the LC 5 Chairman of Luwero district has welcomed the additional deployments but asked Police to tighten security across all its police posts and checkpoints including those in villages. “ Yes I have seen the deployment along the highway but we need to see that even Policemen in the outskirts are on high alert because they could be targeted in another surprise attack,” Kibirango said
Meanwhile, Constable Josephat Twinamatsiko who survived the attack has since been discharged from the hospital, according to DPC Twazagye. Calm has also returned in Luwero and Wobulenzi town councils. Residents had resorted to self-imposed night curfew for the fear of attacks. But on Sunday several revellers returned to bars and people walked on the streets till late with less security fear. Police are yet to arrest the assailants behind the attack on the checkpoint and recover the stolen firearms.
