In the wake of increasing attacks on security personnel, the Commissioner General of Uganda Prisons, Dr. Johnson Byabashaija, has ordered warders and wardresses not to use their mobile phones while on duty.
In a directive issued on Monday, Dr. Byabashaija says staff “must not report for duty with phones, for they distract attention and interfere with the level of alertness…” He adds that the safety and security of guns must be taken as top security issue.
This, according to Byabashaija, would enable them to be focused and be in a position to protect their rifles that are being targeted by criminals.
More than 10 soldiers, private security guards, and police officers have been attacked while on duty or reporting for duty by thugs who move on motorcycles and sometimes have cars.
Four days ago, unknown thugs shot and killed a Uganda People’s Defence Forces -UPDF soldier at Amber Court Road in Jinja, about a kilometre from Gadaffi barracks.
The Defence Ministry Spokesperson, Brig Gen Felix Kulayigye, said Sergeant Simon Peter Eyagu was killed at around 8:50 pm when his co-guard Corporal Norico Kibirige had gone to buy a drink.
The assailants varnished with Eyagu’s gun and that of his colleague. So far three suspects have been arrested.
As the World Cup soccer tournament is on-going, Byabashaija said the warders and wardresses must enhance security in Boma and sentries where prisoners may be watching football. Commanders and Officers in Charge of prison centres must enhance the security of prisoners to and from court, hospital, and labour.
Byabashaija ordered prisons commanders to “desist from long deployments, conduct night and day patrols around the barracks, and enhance searches of all those entering or leaving the prisons facilities.
Frank Baine, the Uganda Prisons Service -UPS spokesperson, said Byabashaija has warned that any officer regardless of rank and title will be held personally liable for any breaches.