Kampala
2/11/07
 
INTERPOL PROTECT VIP IN KAMPALA DURING CHOGM SUMMIT.

By Leo Odera Omolo
 
The International Police (Interpol) has been contracted by the Ugandan government to install state of the art monitoring equipment at the borders of the country ahead of the Commonwealth Head of Government Summit.
 
The Agency’s secretary general Ronald K. Noble who visited Kampala this week said the gadget are also to be installed at the Airport and major venues for the summit, will defect forged traveling document, especially passports.
 
Noble made the revelation on Thursday at a joint press conference with the Inspector General of police in Uganda Maj General Kale Kayihura.
 
‘’This is the first time this kind of technology is going to be used in Africa, ‘’Noble said, adding that Uganda would retain the machines after the CHOGM Summit.
 
The Interpol Chief also announced that Interpol would send a team of police and technical officers to further bolster security for CHOGM. The team will analyze information from all over the world and check any threat to the event.
 
He further stated that no tangible information has been received to the effect that Uganda was a terrorist target ahead of Commonwealth Summit this month.
 
‘’This is a big boost and will enable us defect sophisticated crime and fraud within the system, which normally occur at the border.
 
Meanwhile the Ugandan police are holding two Pakistan nationals in custody for photographing the newly refurbished State House in Entebbe.
 
The men were arrested on Tuesday and are by today (Friday) are still being detained at the Entebbe Police Station pending investigations about their motive.
 
The arrest were yesterday confirmed by the Entebbe Division Police Commander Mr. Hillary Kulayigye and the officer in charge of the CID Julius Ongweng.
 
He said he was told the foreigners were trying to take photographs of State House and were brought to police enquiries,’’ Mr. Kulayigye.
 
Mr. Ongweng said he took over the office only yesterday and therefore he needed firms to establish details as well as the identities of the suspects.
 
The police arrested the two on the State House perimeter fence as they allegedly took photographs.
 
The reconstruction of State House Entebbe has lost government over USD 54 million (about Ushs 91 billion). It is scheduled to be commissioned on November 10, 2007.
 
The imposing structure which has a clear view of the Airport and Lake Victoria has been a source of curiosity for Entebbe residents and visitors alike. Motorists to and from the airport pack their vehicles on the subdrive way to admire the magnificent building that has reshaped the face of the old and sleepy Entebbe town.
 
It will host some of forthcoming CHOGM events to take place in Uganda. The arrest following heightened security in and around the city as the long-awaited event drove near.
 
Thousands of special Police Constables have been deployed, some in plain clothes to ensure that no crime of any nature thrives in Kampala and police have reported that since the deployment of the specially trained police Unit the crime has gone down.
 
Ends.
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com