Security boosted in Yei town after crime boom
The town slipped into a state of lawlessness, locals say. Police reinforcement was sparked by an awareness that violence was out of control, according to County Commissioner David Juma Augustine. The police were not able to manage the high level of insecurity in the centre,” he said.
The police were not able to manage the high level of insecurity in the centre.”
A Joint Operational Force was set up seven months ago established to curb armed robbery and protect citizens, he said, adding that the force consists of ten members from each security force (including police, game, prison wardens) and also 20 military police.
The Joint Operational Force has confiscated guns and ammunition during daily operations over the last months, the Commissioner told reporters at a media conference.
Meanwhile, locals are fearful. Nawaswa David, a Ugandan who is head teacher at a local primary school, says security and impunity remain pressing problems. A friend of mine was badly beaten by a group of men. And when arrested, the culprits were out of the cell in a day,” he told The Niles.
A friend of mine was badly beaten by a group of men.”
Although some say the security situation has drastically improved, cases such as Nawaswa’s friend are still occurring.
Even worse, there have been a number of cases of security forces stealing and manhandling civilians, committing crimes against the people they are supposed to protect. But the commissioner said that he and his colleagues were achieving their goal: Now as I speak we have achieved 80% of our goal.”
However, officials were unable to provide detail on how many crimes were committed in the area.
The commissioner blamed the town’s deteriorating safety record on the influx of people into his county. Yei town connects Uganda and DR Congo to the capital city, Juba. Although there are no proper records showing the number of people entering the settlement, it is believed a few hundreds of people enter the county on a daily basis.
We have achieved 80% of our goal.”
In addition, the prevalence of semi-automatic arms poses a threat to the area’s entire population. Right now, sections of the town are insecure, especially dangerous for non-South Sudanese nationals living and working in the region.
Kiden Amina, an accountant living in Yei, argues that she finds life in the town safer than in the capital Juba.
Since I came to Yei, from Juba, four months ago I have never heard a single shot, as it used to be back then,” said Amina, who is married and has two children. I usually hear gunshots in Juba, especially at night. But here, it is different.”
