Museveni asks courts to hang killers

What you need to know:

Background. The President’s remarks come amid the increasing violent crime in and around Kampala.

As part of the security plan to get rid of violent crime in the country, President Museveni has promised to ‘deal’ with courts to ensure that murderers are hanged.
Two weeks ago, the President directed the deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj Gen Sabiiti Muzeeyi, to come up with a security plan to end increasing armed and violent crime in and around Kampala.
“I have a fight with courts, I will not tolerate people who kill others. Anybody who kills another will also be killed,” Mr Museveni said while addressing ghetto youth in Kampala on Saturday.
He held a meeting with NRM youth under their umbrella organisation, NRM Youth Camp, headquartered at Kibuye. The meeting drew both male and female youth from Makindye, Katwe, Najjanankumbi and Ndeeba areas, which are most prone to violent crime by gangs such as Kifeesi, who are notorious for snatching phones and other items from motorists and hitting pedestrians with iron bars to rob them along Queensway.
“We are going to use Moses’ law; an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Anybody who kills another person will also die,” Mr Museveni said.
He made the remarks after boda boda riders complained to him that when their motorcycles are stolen, they do not receive help because the suspects are released from jail.
The President said he would not accept the situation whereupon conviction, murderers are simply taken to a ‘hotel’ called Luzira prison to be fed by government.
Police security plan
Two weeks ago, police revised the security plan to focus on increased visibility, pursuit of repeat offenders, effective communication with the public and quick response to incidents.