RUKIGA – Residents and business operators in the Rukiga District’s main town, Muhanga, have expressed growing fear over escalating insecurity, rampant shop break-ins, and the unchecked entry of Rwandan nationals into the community.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The concerns were raised on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, during a business community engagement meeting held at Appo Hotel in Muhanga Town Council, bringing together local leaders and traders to address the pressing security challenges.
Business operators Johnson Muhwezi and Mucunguzi Karimagezi, both trading in Muhanga Town, decried the wave of thefts, questioning the effectiveness of police operations despite the force’s claims of vigilance. The duo noted that thieves appear to operate freely, raising doubts about the agency’s presence and response mechanisms in the area.
“We are losing our goods every week. The thieves come at night, break our shops, and take everything. Where is the police? We see them, but nothing changes,” Johnson Muhwezi noted.
The community also took issue with the investigation tactics employed to track down the suspects, pointing out that thieves keep their phones active and traceable, yet little progress appears to have been made in containing them.
The Rukiga District Speaker, who is also the proprietor of Muhanga Golden Primary School, questioned whether the number of officers routinely seen in the town reflects a genuine deployment to curb crime.
He further challenged the Town Council leadership over the procedures used to deliver services to the community, citing the difficulties he has faced in seeking services, particularly the emptying of toilets at his school.
“We see officers on the streets, but the crimes continue. Are they really here to protect us, or are they just passing time? When we need basic services, we are met with endless excuses,” Speaker Oscar remarked.
The Muhanga Town Council Mayor, Twijukye James, in response, revealed that the leadership is considering installing street lights across the town, a measure expected to reduce insecurity during night hours.
“We are working on a plan to install street lights across the town. Once implemented, this will significantly reduce crime during the night hours,” Twijukye confirmed.
The Town Clerk of Muhanga Town Council, Kakaire Herbert, has announced that the council will soon commence the collection of property taxes from landlords, in addition to other taxes, with the revenue expected to be channeled toward stabilizing the town.
He cautioned residents against the dangerous practice of dumping waste into the town’s flowing river and further urged house owners to activate security lights on their buildings as a safety measure.
“We must all take responsibility. Stop dumping waste in the river. Those with shops, stores, and other businesses, please light up your buildings. That will benefit both of us,” Kakaire noted.
The town clerk further called upon business people to promptly pay their taxes through properly gazetted collection points, emphasizing that compliance will enable the council to deliver the essential services the town urgently needs.
The Rukiga District Police Commander, SP Twinomugisha Steven, disclosed that his office has registered a number of theft incidents around the town and confirmed that several suspects have been arrested.
He called upon the community to collaborate with the police by providing information about suspicious individuals, warning that his team will not tolerate any person, regardless of whether they are a leader, involved in criminal activities.
“We have arrested suspects, and investigations are underway. But we cannot do this alone. The community must work with us. I warn anyone involved in crime, whether a leader or a civilian, we will not tolerate it,” SP Steven said.
Meanwhile, the Rukiga District Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Tumushime Gedion, tasked the police to perform their duties professionally, particularly the traffic police on the roads, to ensure that vehicles are not operated outside the guidelines.
The RDC also urged community members to be cautious about the people with whom they share residences and to work closely with the police in tracking down criminal elements by reporting any information regarding insecurity.
“Be cautious about the people you live near. If you see something suspicious, report it. Security is everyone’s responsibility,” D/RDC Gedion remarked.
The engagement follows a series of shop break-ins last week in the town, where shops were broken into and property looted, leaving traders counting losses and demanding urgent action from authorities.
About the Author
