Kampala Metropolitan Police Traffic Commander, Rogers Kauma Nsereko, has expressed concern over the escalating intimidation faced by their traffic officers from motorists who carry firearms in their vehicles.
Speaking during a media training on road safety, Kauma highlighted the disturbing trend, particularly among escorts, who routinely employ intimidation tactics against officers on duty.
“It has become a common occurrence that when we stop a vehicle, the driver lowers the windscreen, revealing nothing but a gun inside,” Kauma lamented.
In an effort to address the issue of insecurity, President Yoweri Museveni ordered the Police in 2021 to arm traffic officers or assign them in pairs with army officers. However, the Police released a statement clarifying that they currently lack an adequate supply of pistols to equip individual traffic police officers while carrying out their duties.
“It is impractical to provide traffic officers with SMG rifles for their traffic duties. We require a more suitable solution. Therefore, for now, we will continue pairing them with general duty officers,” said Fred Enanga, the Police spokesperson.
Meanwhile, in April of this year, Mariam Wangadya, the Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, expressed her own concerns regarding the possession of firearms by some of her colleagues.
Wangadya disclosed that some commission members come armed with pistols during meetings, raising questions about the necessity and appropriateness of such actions.