This archive report was first published on 28 October 2019.
As part of efforts to combat urban crime, the Ugandan police have introduced a new measure requiring hoteliers in Kampala and neighboring districts to submit daily guest registers to the nearest police station.
According to Asan Kasingye, the police chief political commissar, the registers will include details such as the guests' origin and next destination, which will be used by intelligence agencies to track and prevent crime.
Mr. Kasingye emphasized the importance of hoteliers registering guests every morning and submitting the list to the police, stating, "You will make sure hoteliers register people every morning and take that list to the nearest station so that the intelligence can make something out of that," he said.
Additionally, the police will assist local council leaders in villages to form WhatsApp groups that include all residents, including police chiefs of nearby stations, to improve response time when gangs strike.
Recent weeks have seen at least 30 homes and factories raided by armed gangs in Kampala and its outskirts, prompting the police to take drastic measures to combat the rising crime rate.
