Uganda Police have called for public vigilance on people surrounding them as a way to lessen criminals who disguise in the presence of security.

This was remarked on Monday, September 30, 2024, by ACP Kituuma Rusoke, the police spokesperson, while at Naguru police headquarters in Kampala during the weekly security brief, where he advised the masses to be vigilant of people jogging on roads at early hours of 5 to 6 am.

Rusoke added that police and sister security agencies do patrol more, especially in areas suspected of criminal activities; however, the criminals on many occasions disguise doing normal similar activities like any other normal citizen yet targeting soft spots as they are seen barely moving or jogging.

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Rusoke cited a recent case of Agnes Nantongo, who was last seen on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at her workplace at around 7 p.m. in the evening hours but was found dead the following day at around 8 a.m. by passersby on the northern bypass roadside, who later alerted authorities.

’’Police finds it difficult to differentiate these culprits from any normal citizen while patrolling because they also smartly dress in similar ways and do jogging as they softly target victims whom they punch close to death and take away their belongings; therefore, as police, we ask for vigilance among the public, especially these people who operate flower business along roadsides to cooperate with security,’’ Rusoke said.

Incidents of attacks against road joggers are very common in Kampala city and surrounding cities, as it’s cited in a recent incidence in July 2024 where Bishop Zac Niringiye was hit by thugs with a blunt object and his mobile phone taken while he was jogging in Ntinda, and James Kakooza, a 54-year-old Kamwokya Councilor, was attacked in July 2022 while jogging at Yusuf Lule Road near Centenary Park in Nakawa division, Kampala city.