Last week, Kampala Capital City Authority embarked on installing solar powered street lights which leaders hope will reduce the crime rate in the area.
For many years, Kamwokya slum in Kampala has been a hotspot of all forms of crime, ranging from robbery, to drug abuse and prostitution.
The curfew imposed during the lockdown over Covid-19 has not helped matters. Residents have continued to suffer attacks by criminal gangs. The most affected are villages of Kisenyi I, Kisenti II, Church Area, Central zone, Mawanda Zone, Conta Africa, Kifumbira I, Kifumbira II, Mulimira Zone and Butakabukirwa.
Mr James Kakooza, the chairperson of LCI Kamwokya II parish, says because the ghetto attracts all sorts of people, criminals hide among them.
“Most our residents here are market vendors, salon operators, kiosk owners, security guards, road sweepers, sex workers and majority of workers who live hand to mouth,” he says.
Mr Kakooza adds that the unplanned settlements have created safe havens for the thugs.
“They target people who go very early to work and those who are retiring from work. Even if you do not have any valuable, they will hit you until you are unconscious and they search your pockets for anything,”he says.
