If it wasn’t for the vigilance and swift response of the Counter-Terrorism (CT) team, Uganda would have experienced a series of terror attacks according to Deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj Gen Katsigazi Tumusiime.
Gen Tumusiime in his maiden visit to the CT directorate at Naguru police headquarters said CT officers need to be applauded for the tremendous work of fighting and foiling terror activities in the country.
“You have done so much for this country and people out there appreciate it. You are doing a great job and we do appreciate it. You have stopped so many attempts by terrorists that would have caused so much destruction to our citizens. Thank you so much,” Gen Tumusiime said.
Gen Tumusiime said capabilities are very critical and with limited resources, the directorate has managed to deliver before revealing that more training is to be done to equip the officers with more skills, especially with the advancement of technology.
“We are going to train you more with the limited resources since it’s a matter of prioritizing. Now that we have peace, we can’t tell when these fellows (Terrorists) will strike. We need to prepare for that in terms of training and equipment,” Gen Tumusiime added.
Uganda experience a series of terror activities in October and November 2021 which left nine people killed and over 40 injured. Out of the nine fatalities, four were suspected terrorists who were suicide bombers.
The police force’s second in command pledged that more apartments will be constructed to accommodate all officers in Kampala and later rollout throughout the country. CT was established in 2008 as a measure of establishing a mechanism for combating the threats and acts of terrorism in the country.
CT is currently under the command of the Assistant Inspector General of Police -AIGP Abas Byakagaba. The CT directorate comprises eleven units which include CT intelligence, Oil and Gas Protection, Tactical Response, and Tourism among others.