New ‘10-homestead’ scheme launched to curb crime in Pader, Pajule

8 September 2026, 5:54 pm

By Geoffrey Okwong

The Pader District Police Commander (DPC), SP Jackson Bogere, has introduced a stringent “10-homestead” Neighbourhood Watch Scheme in Pajule Town Council to curb rampant livestock theft, domestic break-ins and a breakdown in local security enforcement.

Addressing a high-level security meeting at the town council headquarters yesterday, SP Bogere brought together Local Council I (LCI) and Local Council II (LCII) chairpersons, alongside Officers in Charge (OCs) of police stations in Lapul, Bongtiko, Poroagali, Pajule Sub-county and Pajule Town Council.

The DPC noted that while communities across Pader continue to raise concerns over the theft of cows, goats and poultry, as well as residential break-ins, local council leaders have failed to implement security resolutions passed on April 30 this year.

He observed that community members are no longer respecting village leaders, while some individuals have turned to livestock trading as a way of easily disposing of stolen animals.

To address these security gaps, the DPC announced the introduction of the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, a community-based policing strategy widely used in other countries. Under the framework, large villages will be divided into clusters of 10 to 20 neighbouring households.

Each cluster will be required to elect a leader who will report directly to the village LC1 chairperson. The cluster leaders will maintain a register of adult residents, record newborn babies, monitor school dropouts and keep track of visitors.

SP Bogere also highlighted the potential economic and administrative benefits of the scheme, saying accurate household registers would help the Government allocate Universal Primary Education (UPE) funds based on actual pupil numbers, monitor local health crises and prevent line offices from diverting community vaccines during animal quarantine periods.

The grassroots strategy was warmly welcomed by both lower-level local government leaders and urban authorities.

Mr Charles Komagum, the LC III Chairperson of Latuturu Parish in Pajule Town Council, expressed gratitude to the police and the central government for introducing the programme.

Speaking to our reporter by phone this morning, Mr Tito Brilliant Okello, the Urban Council III Chairperson of Pajule Town Council, welcomed the initiative, describing it as an ideal mechanism for tackling crime in the area.

The Urban Chairperson encouraged residents to embrace the intervention rather than view it as a burden. He revealed that the security initiative is currently scheduled to be piloted exclusively in Pader Town Council and Pajule Town Council, making Pader the second district in Uganda to test this community-based approach.

Furthermore, noting that criminals fleeing village-level enforcement are likely to target urban shops, SP Bogere directed the Pajule Town Council leadership to organise an urgent meeting with the local business community.

He said business owners should organise themselves and hire professional security guards to protect their shops rather than rely entirely on the limited police force to guard individual premises.

SP Bogere said police would give all village chairpersons two weeks to organise and map out the household clusters.

The official rollout and pilot launch of the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme across Pader Town Council and Pajule Town Council is scheduled for the end of October 2026. The launch will be attended by the Regional Police Commander, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) and the District LC V Chairperson.