Back Due To Public Demand: President Museveni Orders LDUs Back On Streets To Curb Crime Rate!

By Spy Uganda

The Commander in Chief of the armed forces President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed the Local Defence Unit (LDUs)f who were withdrawn from the public a few weeks ago to return and help police in enforcing security at night across the country.

The Presidential directive was relayed in a statement issued by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) through army spokesperson Brig.Gen. Flavia Byekwaso, on Tuesday August 11, 2020, in which she stated that LDU’s are being recalled from training to help in the fight against the increasing criminal activities that have cropped in many parts of the country ever since they were withdrawn.

Brig.Gen. Byekwaso’s statement reads in part thus;

RE-ENGAGING LOCAL DEFENCE FORCE ON TARGETED OPERATIONS

Owing to the withdrawal of Local Defence Forces from active operations to go back for refresher training, the level of criminality has since increased especially during the night. Severally, local leaders and the general public have petitioned security leaders to re-engage them in order to contain the situation:

Following in-depth consultations with security stakeholders, it has been agreed as follows:

1. That LDUs (Local Defence Units) who have undergone and completed their training, resume operations only at night in support of the Uganda Police Force to curtail criminal activities.
2. That LDU’s shall also participate in intelligence led limited operations on specific targets on request and in support of Uganda Police Force.
3. That members of the Local Defence Force shall not participate in daytime enforcement of COVID 19 directives outlined by the Ministry of health and the head of state. The public is therefore implored to cooperate and support these forces in this noble duty of ensuring that every Ugandan is safe and secure from any threat and all acts of criminally.”

The LDUs were withdrawn from the public in July and taken for further training on how to enforce the law without making mistakes that lead to loss of people’s lives.

Major Bilal Katamba, the spokesperson of the UPDF 1st Division said then that; “The LDU have been withdrawn and will now concentrate on their original role of community policing now that the COVID-19 lockdown has been eased.” They have since then been undergoing training.