NYAGATARE – With the year 2009 reaching its end, police reports in Nyagatare have indicated that the district tops others in high crime rates in Eastern Province.

In a district security meeting held on Thursday at ERR Nyagatare in Nyagatare sector, Spt. Edward Kayitare, the district Police commander presented to the audience, a crime report which indicated that Nyagatare district tops  in the Province with 502 crime incidences.

He stressed in this meeting that also attracted local leaders at cell level that out of 502 crime incidences committed in Nyagatare district, 76% were rape and robbery related crimes.

According to 2009 general security assessment on the Provincial level, Nyagatare district was followed by Bugesera district.

The statistics came in the backdrop of recent reports from the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion which indicated that Nyagatare district was coming second to Nyarugenge district in gender based violence.

The security meeting also attributed the big number of crimes committed in the district to continuous illegal influx of illicit drugs and local brew into the district.

Local leaders urged to support the stamping out of illicit drugs 

Atuhe Sabiti Fred, the district mayor who presided over the meeting pinned local leaders at cell level for being complacent while fighting the entry of illicit drugs into the district.

‘Some of these crimes are caused by continuous use of illicit drugs and some cell executive secretaries seem complacent in stamping out this problem. How can people sell Kanyanga (local brew) when a leader in that cell is unaware?’ he said.

The mayor said that tough measures will be put in place to combat such vices in the year 2010.

‘Tough measures will be put in place next year against any leader who will be caught being complacent within this issue of combating crime,’ the mayor said.

Local leaders were also warned against illegally selling plots to immigrants who settle in the district without authority.

Ends