I took a day off to visit one of Kampala slums called Kiyayi recently, what I found there was amazingly interesting and a concern to the whole society on the other hand.
I had never been to Kiyayi before, but on the way I expected to find thugs, robbers, conmen and prostitutes because the name itself reflects exactly that.
Kiyayi is a common slung used in Uganda to mean people with unethical behaviors like thugs and conmen, etc.
Indeed, the name reflects the nature of the people because; they are deeply involved in criminal activities.
The first resident, I met called Amooti a local retail shop owner told me it’s a hub of criminals ranging from drug abusers to robbers.
Amooti says that beyond midnight going to Kiyayi is very dangerous. Criminals – mostly marijuana smokers - are always on the look for people to rob them of their money and other valuable property.
Located in Nankulabye West Zone, Nankulabye Parish in Rubaga Division and officially known as Zone 4, Kiyayi is always busy with a beehive of activities ranging from video halls, eating joints, saloons and small bars from morning to midnight .
From my observation, the place is also faced with problems of poor sanitation. Most drainage systems are blocked, garbage is littered everywhere and most latrines are full and infested with flies.
Besides, people are suspicious of strangers, many refused to give me interviews because they were suspicious of my activities. A resident told me that they fear security operatives who always come to hunt for criminal gangs especially thieves and Marijuana smokers.
When I approached a cobbler for an interview, he quickly asked me for my identification and the purpose of the interview, when I introduced myself as a journalist he was quick to refuse the interview.
The cobler told me that he is busy, “Mwaggala tukolako mawuliire, police eje etusiibe, sirina buude bwo Ssebo, ndi busy.” In English meaning, “you want to expose us in the media so that police arrests us, I have no time for you, am busy.” The cobbler said.
According to the chairperson LC1 Musisi Muyamba Robert who has lived in the area for more than 30 years, the name Kiyayi came about because during President Idi Amini era in the 1970’s the area was mostly inhabited by criminals who used to smoke Marijuana.
He says during Amin days, robbery, murder, prostitution and rape among other crimes were the order of the day.
The chairman says, Marijuana smokers are still many especially the youth who have posed a high security threat, Muyamba says as a result – of Marijuana – there are increasing cases of rape and robbery.
Efforts to crack them down (drug abusers) have been hampered by lack of help from the government and the economic benefits from the illegal drug trade. A Marijuana stick goes for 200 shillings.
Muyamba says the LC1 leadership of the area has appealed for help especially inform of sensitization programmes on drug abuse, tougher laws on Marijuana and improved security which doesn’t come.
The cahirman says the area also faces threats of disease outbreaks especially cholera because of poor toilets, poor drainage system and uncollected garbage.
Hajji Musa Nsubuga a self employed senior resident of the area says the high criminal levels in the area are further, fuelled by increased levels of unemployment among the youth which makes them idle.
“Unemployed youth are highly involved in gambling games which is a common activity in the area, when their money is lost during the game; they became desperate hence resorting to robbery to recover their lost money.” Nsubuga says.
He adds, “Desperate youth target people, who are coming from work, bars or shopping especially at night between 10: 00pm and midnight and rob their money and other valuables like mobile phones.”
At night the most dangerous spots leading to Kiyayi are on Global Skills SS, Nankulabye West Church and Mukazi Munene road according to Nsubuga.
The many drinking places for local brew called Kasese and the video halls are also responsible for high crime rates because they are breeding places for criminals. Nsubuga says women who sell Kasese hide criminals in their houses during day time only to release them at night to go and target people on the way so hat they can rob their money and other valuables like mobile phones.
Nsubuga blames all the high crime rates in the area to the police officers who connive with the criminal gangs. He says when arrested the criminals receive light punishments and sometimes the police officers do not even bother arresting them at all when tipped, but the police officer attached to Nankulabye police station denies the allegations.
Nsubuga says the light punishments and the soft approach of the police towards the criminals especially drug abusers, has made them so arrogant even towards the local leaders. He says it’s now normal for people to smoke Marijuana freely during the day. But the chairman says the youth smoke from corridors and other dark places at night.
The police officer (who couldn’t tell me his names due to security reasons) told the writer that, “people are ignorant of the law, the law on opium smoking, possession and supply is very weak. Criminals can be convicted with caution or 3 hours of community service in the courts of law.” He says.
He says the police is conducting police patrols everyday and conducting community contemporary policing every first week of the month, all geared at reducing crime rates in the area.
