Ugandan Police spokesperson on Wednesday said the country is strengthening security ahead of the festive season.
Uganda Police Force spokesman Kituuma Rusoke said in a statement that the joint security personnel, both armed and unarmed, have been deployed to patrol mapped-out areas in the capital city Kampala and major towns to ensure peace, safety, and security ahead of Christmas Day and New Year activities.
“Uganda is one of the countries at the forefront of fighting global terrorism. Our country faces threats from terrorist organizations.
“We have put our personnel on a high level of alert to detect crime and avert potential threats. We equally urge the population to team up with security forces in ensuring safe neighbourhoods.’’
Uganda continues to face threats from the Allied Democratic Forces, a rebel group holed up in the neighbouring eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and al-Shabab, a Somali militant group.
The ADF, also a branch of the Islamic State in Central Africa, has been causing havoc and mounting attacks in North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the eastern DRC.
Al-Shabab has on several occasions threatened to attack Uganda if it does not withdraw its peacekeeping troops in Somalia serving under the African Union Transition Mission.
The group launched twin bomb attacks in Kampala in 2010, killing about 80 people and injuring many others. (Xinhua/NAN)
