Local security companies in Kabarole district are flouting the recruitment procedures for security guards.
An investigation by a Uganda Radio Network Reporter revealed the recruitment is done in haste and in total defiance of the right recruitment procedures.
URN reporter went to Tooro Veterans Security Group in Fort Portal town and asked to be recruited as a security guard. He was asked to produce a recommendation letter from the village LC 1 chairman and that's all. According to Mark Agaba, the supervisor our reporter would be ready for training on production of the recommendation letter.
The reporter asked what kind of training he would get and was told never to worry because the training would last just one week and would focuss mainly on the rules of the security company and gun handling. After the training, he would be given a gun and a baton and would then be ready for deployment.
Curious to know more about the recruitment procedures of security guards, this reporter went to Rwenzori Security Company. He was asked to produce a recommendation letter from an LC 1 chairman, but instead of attending a one week training, he would be required to attend two weeks of training in gun handling.
Not satisfied with what he saw, our reporter sought advice from three newly recruited security guards at Alert Security Company. One of the new recruits identified only as Asiimwe said he presented a recommendation letter from the LC1 chairperson and was told report back after two days. When he returned, he was deployed.
In a telephone interview, Emmanuel Muheirwe, the commissioner of police in-charge private security admitted that security companies are flouting several procedures.
Muheirwe says companies which want to recruit guards are supposed to be registered with the police. The applicants are then vetted by the respective district and regional police commanders, where the security companies operate.
Vetting involves establishing if the security guard has a criminal record, has a mental illness, has letters of recommendation from LC1 chairpersons, GISOs and the DISOs.
According to Muheirwe, the security guards then carry out trainings which should be supervised by police officers. He says that the guards are trained in proper handling of weapons and guarding procedures. Muheirwe says that the guards should be trained for three months, before they are deployed.
Wilson Kwanya, the Western Region Police Commander, says that police is aware of some private security companies which are not following the right recruitment procedures, but police has been reluctant to take any action.
//Cue in: “police has a responsibility to supervise.”
Cue out: “…must complete training properly.”//
Kwanya says that with effect from next month, no security company will carry out trainings, without police supervision.
The lack of proper recruitment and training procedures of security guards is partly to blame for the increasing cases of crime involving security guards.
Statistics at the office of the District Police Commander Kabarole show that the office receives more than seven cases each month of security guards engaged in criminal acts like robbery and misuse of their weapons.
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