Pader police turn to door-to-door campaign to fight dayttime Thefts

13 October 2026, 7:28 pm

By Geoffrey Okwong

Police in Pader District have embarked on door-to-door community policing and neighbourhood watch initiatives to strengthen cooperation with residents and curb criminal activities ahead of the Christmas season.

Adula Afuna, the LC I chairperson of Ogwaleng Valley Ward, welcomed the police engagement, saying taking security services closer to residents could help address community concerns and reduce crime.

Afuna, however, observed that criminals appeared to be changing their methods, with some breaking into homes during the daytime when occupants had left to attend to work and other activities.

He expressed hope that continued engagement between police and residents would help improve security through information sharing and community participation.

Pader District Police Commander SP Jackson Bogere said the door-to-door exercise was intended to help police understand the challenges residents face, assess how communities perceive police services and jointly devise ways of fighting crime.

Bogere said that during the first day of the exercise, some residents remained reluctant to share information, partly because they appeared to believe police officers visiting their homes were looking for criminal suspects.

He clarified that the visits were intended to build trust and encourage residents to speak openly about security concerns.

Bogere urged residents to cooperate with officers whenever they visited their homes or workplaces, saying community participation was essential in preventing crime.

He also praised Afuna for mobilising residents and accompanying police during the exercise, urging other local leaders to provide similar support when officers visit their communities.

The DPC said household visits could help police reach residents who might not attend public meetings, creating more opportunities for people to share information about security challenges.

The campaign is part of efforts to strengthen neighbourhood watch arrangements and improve police-community relations ahead of the Christmas season.