Government will not pay crime preventers - Museveni

President Museveni inspects a guard of honour by crime preventers during their pass out at Mbale Municipal Stadium last week. PHOTO BY DAVID KAZUNGU

Mbale- Thousands of crime preventers in Elgon sub-region who were passed out last week have expressed disappointment about the pronouncement that they will not be paid for their services.

While passing out about 171,930 crime preventers at Mbale Municipal Stadium, President Museveni said government does not have enough resources to pay them salaries.

He said instead, government will support them through the Operation Wealth Creation programme to get projects for their economic welfare.
Mr Museveni said they will be given coffee, cotton and maize seedlings and heifers.

But the crime preventers who talked to Daily Monitor shortly after their pass out said they are unemployed and joined the campaign with expectations that they will be getting a pay.

Ms Eunice Namayi, 22, a Senior Four leaver, said she has now lost interest and will concentrate on helping her peasant parents in Bududa District other than offer free service to the police.

“I joined this campaign because I am unemployed and my expectation was to earn some money from my services. Since the President has said we are not going to get anything for our services, I personally feel demoralised and I believe I will not participate,” said Ms Namayi.

Mr Saulo Butali, 20, from Bulambuli District, said by saying crime preventers will not be paid, President Museveni has sent several of them out of the force since most of them joined because they are unemployed.

“I think he has been open to us and we can now decide to do something more productive than being crime preventers. It’s good he said it early other keeping us in suspense with the hope that we will get a payment,” said Mr Butali.

The Inspector General of Police, Mr Kale Kayihura, said crime preventers who were recruited from Mbale, Bulambuli, Manafwa, Sironko and Bududa districts are to help police to fight crime in both rural and urban areas in their respective area.

Age-old move
He said fighting crime in the country started way back in the 1970s when Ugandans volunteered to fight against dictatorship especially against former President Idi Amin.

“It is a historical day for the Elgon region because the idea of having crime preventers in this country started in Mbale about 40 years ago where people were recruited as volunteers to fight dictatorship. Today, we are experiencing peace in the country because of the good role played by crime preventers,” said Gen Kayihura.

Prime minister endorses initiative

In September while presiding over the pass out of 40,000 crime preventers in Kabale, Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda applauded their recruitment saying it is a good initiative.

Dr Rugunda emphasised that crime preventers are a legal entity and those criticising their establishment equating it to militia groups are out of order. Opposition politicians and civil society organisations have often criticised crime preventers as a political move to ensure President Museveni secures victory in next year’s election.