SIMPSON M
Local leaders in Rutenga Subcounty, Kanungu District, are appealing to the government to step up security by increasing police presence in their villages following a surge in theft and other criminal activities.
The leaders revealed that cases of animal theft, burglaries, and robberies have become rampant, forcing some residents to sleep outdoors at night to protect their livestock. They further pointed to a recent incident in Rugandu Cell, Katojo Parish, where a two-year-old child went missing on 11th August 2025 and has not yet been recovered, despite ongoing police investigations.
Concerns were also raised over widespread drug abuse among the youth, with reports of marijuana being cultivated within residential compounds. Leaders criticized the lack of police action on the matter and called for regular patrols, stressing that the insecurity situation has grown beyond community control and now requires urgent intervention from law enforcement.
Rutenga Subcounty Chairperson, Joab Kamusimiire, acknowledged the growing insecurity and confirmed that theft remains the biggest challenge. He urged parents and caretakers to be more vigilant with their children and noted that the rising crime wave is affecting livelihoods and even government programs, as many of the stolen animals had been acquired through initiatives such as the Parish Development Model.
