The Inspector General of Uganda Police Force, Gen. Kale Kayihura, has called on Police schools on the continent to orient their students toward addressing causes of crime to ensure that forces shift from dealing with the consequences to prevention.

Kayihura made the call yesterday while giving a lecture on the "Role of Police in addressing contemporary violence and public order management,” to 464 students undergoing professional and academic courses at the National Police College in Musanze District.

"Terrorism, violent demonstrations, cyber crime and corruption are affecting safety of our countries and development in general. Police should, therefore, be informed, organised and equipped to prevent such threats rather than dealing with the consequences,” Gen. Kayihura said.

He said violence and increased mass protests have also put to test the current policing architecture, which requires review of tactics.

"If we sleep, we will find ourselves swallowed by bad groups who hide behind curtains of the so-called peaceful protests that eventually turn violent. Effective policing must go beyond fighting crime by actively participating in solving the root causes of crime,” he said.

Gen. Kayihura, who is in the country to attend the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) conference that opens today, said the use of IDs as travel documents in EAC has eased the movement of wrongdoers and gives Forces in the bloc added work to stop them from executing their plans.

About 150 participants, who include chiefs of Police, members of IACP and senior Police officers are expected to attend the two-day conference organised by Rwanda National Police and IACP under the theme, "Contemporary Policing for a Safer World.”

Commissioner of Police Cyprien Gatete thanked Gen. Kayihura for sharing his knowledge and expertise in crime handling.