Former Uganda Young Democrats (UYD) President Ismail Kirya has attributed the recent surge in insecurity to enforcement operations conducted by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).
Kirya says that the increase in crimes such as theft and violence is linked to unemployed youths who were previously operating as street vendors in Kampala.
He claims that following KCCA’s crackdown on vendors, many young people were displaced from the streets and left without alternative sources of income, making them vulnerable to engaging in criminal activities as a means of survival.
He emphasized the need for the government to urgently prioritize job creation and livelihood programs to support affected youths.
Kirya warned that failure to address the challenge could overstretch security forces tasked with managing the growing number of idle and frustrated young people.
In addition, Kirya advised opposition candidates who are contesting their electoral defeats to seek redress through the courts of law rather than pursuing claims outside the legal framework.
By Charles Katabalwa
2nd Mar 2026
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