Home security: Embrace community policing this Christmas season

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As the country is enjoying the festive season, one important aspect that cannot be neglected is security. 

Burglary cases tend to increase during the season and according to the Police, thieves are targeting valuable household property like TVs, video decks, radios, mobile phones, among others.

Cases of burglaries are currently reported in the city suburbs, with some thugs are said to be targeting pedestrians and breaking into people’s houses. Such cases have been reported in Kireka, Bweyogerere, Ntinda, Rubaga, Bukoto and Kisaasi, all Kampala suburbs.

Security expert Charles Rwomushana cautions the public to be very vigilant and extremely careful.

“As citizens, we shouldn’t relax at all. In this season, thugs can easily come in at your home as water meter readers, rob you everything. But before you allow them in your premises, first ask for their valid identity cards. This will help you to detect the wrong elements,” Rwomushana advises.

For those away from home, ensure that you alert your neighbours through the neighbourhood system.

“Don’t just close your door or gate and move away. Inform your neighbour and if it’s possible, install or put on the security lights on your house,” says the Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire. In addition, save your neighbour’s phone number and share yours. This will make it convenient for them to contact you in case of an emergency. 

In addition, you can use more than one padlock, that is, both inside and outside, which makes it relatively difficult for a burglar to break into your house.

And those walking at night, Owoyesigyire advises against moving very late, where one could easily become a target for thugs. 

Is rainy season a blessing to burglars?

As the country is experiencing heavy rainfall, burglars take advantage to attack knowing that house occupants can’t hear their movements. So, it becomes easy for the burglars to break into people’s houses.

Rwomushana advises those who can afford, to hire security guards but also must be very careful because some of them, connive with the thieves.

“And they should also install CCTV cameras around their premises to monitor whatever is happening at their homes,” he adds.

Attending church services, public gatherings

Both, the security experts, and the Police are cautioning Ugandans, to be cautious about their security in places of worship and entertainment.

“You need also to be extra vigilant when you leave your home, go to the church or entertainment places. Just keep watching your surroundings,” says Owoyesigyire.

Establish mobile police posts

During this season, some leaders are asking Government to re-establish the Police posts at the villages.

“Thugs were fearing to break into people’s houses because of the presence of the Police posts. I therefore, ask Government to reconsider the policy, reinstate them,” says Paul Mugambe, the Nakawa division mayor.

Board up shell houses

Due to economic stress in the country, many Ugandans have not been able to finish constructing their houses this year. The shell houses are now being used by thieves, to hide their stolen property. Such incidents are common in Mukono municipality. Therefore, security committees advise either boarding up the houses or get caretakers.

Embrace community policing

This system empowers the residents in a given area to work together with the Police to protect their homes. If this system is fully employed in this period, homes can be safe even when some people go to the village for the holiday.

“We patrol at night so that criminals do not get away with theft and murder. We normally move in a group of 12 to 15 people, surveilling all the corners of our village. When we meet someone late in the night, he or she must explain where they are going. If the explanation is not convincing, we take him or her to Police,” says Bernard Geyoleka, the head of defence at Bukasa Village in Kira Municipality says community patrols.

According to Geyoleka, in addition to patrols, they also hold security consultative meetings at the village level, to sensitise residents on their responsibility in keeping the community safe. “For instance, one of the responsibilities of residents is to alert the area security leader of any suspicious activity in and around their homes or the community,” he says.

It is also imperative that residents join community WhatsApp groups so that when they feel threatened, they can post a massage on the group so that the responsible people can respond, Geyoleka adds.

Community members also need to choose security committees that are empowered to detect crime and inform Police immediately.

“We think that this system is going to help fight criminality in this festive season,” says Eddie Ssemitego, one of the community policing officers at Kira Road Police station.

Treat security guards well

One of the mechanisms of keeping our homes safe in this period is to have security guards. Noteworthy is that they must be treated well, so that they do not get disgruntled and deliver a good service, according to James Alemi, a resident of Ntinda in Nakawa municipality who calls himself, a friend of askaris. A satisfied guard will keep your homes and property safe even when you, the boss is away for Christmas holidays.

Alemi advises paying guards on time and if you can pay them a bonus for the good work they have done all year round, so that they too can enjoy the season.

“Once this is done, the guard will look after your home with a contented heart,” Alemi says.

Avoid leaving an empty house

Joseph Kato, the chairperson of LCI of Church Area Zone in Kamwokya says the responsibility of keeping homes safe in this Christmas season starts with the owner of the home, and not the Police or local leaders.

“For example, if you want to go to the village, it is not good for all of the family members to go and leave the home empty. Let one of the family members stay at home to keep it safe. Alternatively, if your neighbours do not go to village and you have a good relationship with them, request one of them to sleep in your house at night.

When robbers, especially those that attack in slum areas, come at night, they just look for the padlocks on the door. When they see it outside, they know that there is no one inside and they break it. So, when someone sleeps inside the house, then the chances of breaking into your house get minimised,” he says.