Kampala, (UG):- President Museveni on Tuesday banned police bonds for criminal suspects and warned of reactivating Local Defence Unit (LDU) personnel if petty crimes continue to plague Ugandan villages.
While delivering his End of Year/ New Year address at his country home in Rwakitura, Mr Museveni said he had discussed the issue of bail with Chief Justice Alphonse Owiny-Dollo and declared an end to police bonds.
“I have raised the issue of bails with Chief Justice Alphonse Owiny-Dollo, and I have banned the issue of police bonds,” he stated. Highlighting the increase in petty crimes, such as livestock and coffee theft targeting rural farmers, Museveni emphasized the importance of addressing these issues through strict legal measures.
“Firm legal handling of criminals is very useful,” he remarked, adding that any police officer who grants a bond to a village thief when the case is ready for trial will face consequences. “The handling of the village thieves legally but firmly is good for the villages and also for the thieves themselves,” he said.
The president urged Ugandan authorities to focus on engaging civilians in productive activities to reduce crime in 2025. He questioned the roles of Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) and police in addressing idle youth involved in criminal activities, particularly theft and drug abuse.
“On the marijuana-smoking idle youths who steal coffee in the night… What are the RDCs doing? Why do they not engage the youths to direct their efforts towards honest work?” Museveni wondered.
The 80-year-old head of state further warned that if authorities fail to act, he will call upon the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to empower wealth creators and farmers to safeguard their property.
“If the concerned authorities do not act, I will involve the UPDF to empower all the wealth creators and farmers to guard their property by activating the vast militia of our LDUs. It will not be good for those thieves,” cautioned the President.
Under Ugandan law, police bonds are free, and the constitution mandates that suspects must be presented in court or released within 48 hours of arrest, pending further investigations.
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