Security officials register residents to curb crime in Kawempe

In a bid to combat rising crime in Kawempe division, security officials are introducing a bold new measure: the registration of all residents.

The initiative, which aims to curb nighttime robberies and house break-ins, has sparked mixed reactions among locals in the Kizza and Kisowera zones—two areas that have become hotspots for criminal activity.

The plan comes after a spate of recent robberies, where thugs raided homes and made off with valuable items such as phones and laptops. The alarming frequency of these crimes has left residents feeling vulnerable and frustrated, with many pointing fingers at organized gangs operating in the area.

A community under Siege

For residents like Sarah Namubiru, a shopkeeper in Kizza, the fear of break-ins has become a part of daily life.

“Every night, I go to bed worrying about my home. We hear stories of people being robbed almost every week. It’s not safe anymore,” she laments. Namubiru, who has lived in the area for over a decade, says the situation has worsened in recent months, with criminals growing more brazen.

John Makumbi, the local defense leader, echoes these concerns. “We have at least three break-ins reported every week. These criminals know no boundaries—they are entering homes in the middle of the night, stealing whatever they can find,” he says.

According to Makumbi, the culprits often belong to notorious gangs like the Kasolo Boys, Gaza, Waakanda, and Gaali—some of which are composed of local children, making it harder for the community to fight back.

Security officials respond

In response, a security meeting was held in Kisowera, chaired by Hajji Njuki Mbabali, the Deputy Resident City Commissioner for Kawempe Division. During the meeting, Mbabali announced plans to roll out the registration of all residents in the area.

The goal, he explained, is to gather crucial information about each resident, including their occupation, household members, and daily routines, in a bid to make it easier to track criminals and prevent future attacks.

“The idea is simple,” Mbabali explained. “We need to know who lives in our community, what they do, and when they are likely to be home. This information will help us identify potential threats and monitor suspicious activity more effectively.”

While the registration initiative is welcomed by some, others are more skeptical.

Namubiru, for one, is cautiously optimistic about the plan. “If it can help stop the robberies, then I’m all for it. We need security, and if registering my family can make us safer, why not?” she says. However, she worries that without proper follow-up, the initiative could become just another bureaucratic exercise.

“What guarantees do we have that the information won’t be misused? We need to trust that this is being done for our safety and not to invade our privacy.”

Others, like Simon Mugisha, a boda boda rider in Kisowera, have stronger reservations. “How will this solve the problem of police officers who are corrupt? We know some of them work with the criminals,” he claims.

Mugisha believes that without addressing the alleged police complicity, the registration effort could be in vain. “It’s not just about knowing who lives here. It’s about ensuring that the people supposed to protect us aren’t involved in on the crimes.”

Similar frustrations were expressed during the security meeting, with residents accusing some local police officers of turning a blind eye to the activities of these gangs. “We have been reporting these criminals, but they are still out there,” complained one resident. “How are we supposed to trust this process when the people responsible for our security are part of the problem?”

A step toward a safer community

Despite these concerns, Mbabali remains confident that the registration process is a step in the right direction. He believes that by working closely with local leaders and holding meetings in every zone, the community will come to see the value of this new strategy.

“We are not just registering people—we are creating a system of accountability,” he stated. “If everyone knows that their neighbors are being watched, it becomes much harder for criminals to operate undetected.”

Mbabali also announced that more security operations would be conducted to ensure that known gang members are apprehended. He encouraged residents to be proactive in reporting suspicious activities and assured them that their information would be kept confidential.

Looking at the bigger picture

Criminal gangs are not new to Kawempe or Kampala at large. Over the years, infamous groups like Kifeesi, Bad Life, and XOI have terrorized communities across the city, often targeting business people returning home after dark. Many of these gangs operate in densely populated, low-income areas where unemployment and poverty provide fertile ground for recruitment.

For experts like Daniel Sserunkuma, a community organizer in the division, the issue goes beyond registration. “Yes, we need security, but we also need to address the underlying causes of this criminality. These gangs are made up of our children—what are we doing to offer them alternatives?”

Sserunkuma believes that while registering residents may help in the short term, long-term solutions will require investment in education, youth programs, and job creation. “If we give these young people something to aspire to, we can reduce crime for good.”

A path forward

For now, the registration of residents in Kizza and Kisowera zones is seen as a necessary first step in restoring order. But as the process unfolds, both security officials and community members will need to work together to ensure that it delivers on its promise—making Kawempe a safer place for all.

Whether viewed as a solution to rising crime or as an overreach by security forces, the plan to register residents is already shaping the conversation about safety in Kampala’s outskirts. And as night falls, residents will be watching closely to see if this initiative can bring them the peace of mind they so desperately crave.