Kakasi Sub-County in Kitagwenda District has stepped up efforts to fight crime through the recruitment and induction of Village Security Committees, commonly known as village vigilantes.
According to Kakasi GISO Habariremwa Cranimar, the initiative aims to recruit five security committee members in every village to strengthen community policing and security at the grassroots.
So far, 26 villages have been covered and their committees inducted, with the members now ready to support security efforts in their respective communities.
Habariremwa says the programme will continue across the sub-county, with the next induction scheduled for Iryangabi Parish at 10:00 a.m.
He says the initiative has already contributed to a reduction in reported crime in Kakasi Sub-County.
The programme is being implemented in collaboration with the Officer in Charge of the area and Kakasi LCIII Chairperson Tumuramye Bright.
According to security officials, the village committees are expected to support community policing, intelligence gathering and the maintenance of law and order at village level.
The exercise will continue until all villages in Kakasi Sub-County have established and inducted their security committees.