Ibanda, Kazo Residents Decry Low Police Presence Amidst Rising Murders

Residents in the Ibanda and Kazo districts are increasingly apprehensive about their safety due to what they describe as a significant lack of police presence. The perceived absence of adequate security patrols and accessible police services is fueling fear and allowing criminal activities, including murders, to escalate.

Community members have highlighted instances where response times to reported crimes are notably slow, leaving them vulnerable. “We no longer see security patrols at night; there is a complete absence of security presence in the area. People are being killed, and livestock and agricultural produce are being stolen. We are living in constant fear,” stated Posias Tumukunde, a local resident, during a meeting with the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Abbas Byakagaba.

Local leaders echo these sentiments, pointing out the vast distances some sub-counties have to travel to reach the nearest police post. “We still have sub-counties that are located far from police posts and locals have to move over 35 kilometers to get police services,” explained Happy Herbert Mayanja, the Ibanda District Chairperson. He added that some divisions are currently served by a single police post, exacerbating the problem.

The situation is compounded by a perceived lack of follow-up on intelligence provided by the community. “Even when we tip off security about suspects, we are let down. There is no cooperation to investigate these individuals, and machete-wielding thugs continue to torment residents without any intervention,” commented Geofrey Turyasingura, a councilor from Kazo District.

In response to these pressing concerns, IGP Byakagaba assured residents that additional security personnel will be deployed. “All sub counties are going to get a minimum of extra six security personnel within the coming week. We also understand that there are those without a police post, and we are going to address it,” he stated, emphasizing the link between security and development.

However, Resident Commissioner Godfrey Mbetegyereize also called for better cooperation from local leaders, noting that some fail to inform security forces about public gatherings, hindering their ability to understand and address local challenges. The escalating insecurity is also impacting government initiatives like the Parish Development Model (PDM), with project inputs being stolen, potentially leading to the program’s failure if security is not bolstered.

According to the Annual Police Crime Report 2025, the Rwizi Region, which includes Ibanda, registered the highest number of murder cases in the country.