Police abdicating its responsibility to Mobile Money Agents?

There have been more than 37 cases of robbery of the mobile money agents across the Country. This comes barely few months after the call and installation of street cameras in a bid to curb crime. It is sickening to see that crime keeps increasing despite billions spent in recruiting LDUs, installing Cameras, purchasing tri-cycles (which by the way I have never seen them in use). There should be no reason why security lapses should exist with all these measures that have cost tax payers handsomely.

Recently, the Police has now abdicated its responsibility of protecting its citizens to asking them to protect themselves. The Police has instructed mobile money agents to hire personal guards from private security firms to provide them with security. This is deplorable; this is the sole duty of the police and security agencies; to protect their citizens. One wonders why the Police is vying the agents to hire private guards; is it a business ploy? Secondly, the Mobile Money agents are tax payers who deserve to be protected too and for Police to ask them to sort their own security is a vote of no confidence. These agents earn between Shs 200,000 and 400,000 as commission per month, pay trade fees, rent among others. The average cost of hiring a security guard and other accessories is about Shs 400,000 per month! Where will they get these monies from? Is anyone thinking seriously about this?

We need to be serious! The state's role is to create wealth for its citizens and also protect it and the citizens and when it gives up on its mandate, then it means it is not in charge. The Bank Agents too need to be security cautious because tomorrow it could be them may be shop attendants or market vendors. How many people will keep hiring private guards yet Police keeps recruiting and asking for supplementary budgets?

Let the security agencies work together with the communities to ensure security other than abdicating their roles and burdening tax payers.

By Michael Aboneka

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