NRM National Treasurer Barbara Nekesa Oundo has urged newly elected village chairpersons and their committees in Busia District to intensify night patrols to curb theft and protect residents’ property.
Nekesa made the call on Friday while presiding over a belated celebration of the victory of Busia Woman MP Janet Hope Webby Nasirwa in Lumino Town Council.She said village leaders should not wait for residents, particularly beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM), to complain about theft of their property.
Nekesa said insecurity undermines development and urged newly elected village defence secretaries to immediately organise security teams to conduct routine night patrols in their respective villages.
She also called for the teams to be facilitated and provided with protective gear, including gumboots and jackets.
Minister of State for Works in charge of Transport and Samia Bugwe South MP Julius Maganda Wandera said national leaders were committed to promoting development in Busia and the wider Bukedi sub-region
He said local leaders should support national leaders by addressing security challenges at the village level as a foundation for development.
Samia Bugwe Central MP Richard Wanyama Hamala urged residents to embrace government programmes aimed at improving household incomes and promoting development.
He said leaders in the Bukedi sub-region had introduced an initiative promoting cocoa and coffee growing and called on residents to take up the crops.
Busia Woman MP Janet Hope Webby Nasirwa pledged to continue lobbying for development projects in the district, with a particular focus on supporting women whom she said require adequate security.
Francis Ojambo, the Buhatuba Parish defence secretary, said village security teams were willing to conduct night patrols but lacked financial support. He said night patrols are risky and physically demanding, requiring facilitation from local leaders.
Michael Ouma, another village defence secretary, said security teams had previously been formed in the area but members eventually abandoned continuous night patrols because of inadequate financial support.He said the patrols had helped reduce criminal activities, including livestock theft.
Eric Masiga, the Otuke District Resident District Commissioner who represented Busia RDC Hajira Namagogwe, said security authorities were ready to work with village security teams to protect residents and their property.
He also called on the Obwene’ngo cultural institution to continue guiding local leaders as part of efforts to promote unity in the area.
