The recent spate of armed attacks on major hotels in Masaka Town has prompted police to take over security of the premises. Three security guards have been shot dead during four armed attacks on hotels in Masaka District since June. Two guards were shot dead and their guns taken by the attackers. The latest attack was on Sunday at Zebra Hotel, where a security guard, Annet Nasasira, 30, was killed and her gun taken. The thugs also robbed the hotel of unspecified amount of money, computers and other documents. Mr Benon Mugarura, the hotel manager, said the thugs dug a hole through the wall to enter the hotel and stole several documents including land titles. Zebra Hotel is a few metres from the State Lodge and just opposite Vice President Edward Ssekandi’s residence. Two months ago, thugs raided Dawson Petrol Station in the same town and killed two people: a supervisor and guard. A guard at Maria Flo Hotel was also shot dead by thugs who took his gun. This has prompted police to deploy at major hotels. The hotels have been employing services of private security companies such as Damacos Security Group, Security 2000, Securico Group, and Securex Security Systems. Ms Noah Sserunjoji, the Police Spokesperson for Greater Masaka Region, said they intervened after preliminary investigations showed the private guards deployed at the hotels could not handle the security. Deployment Ms Sserunjoji said the deployment was a temporarily measure to allow hotel owners put in place the appropriate security plans. He said police would offer security guards extra training before they are deployed for duty. At Hotel Brovad, police officers screen and check guests entering into the premises while other security officers are deployed around it. Mr Kassim Ssembajja, the manager of Hotel Brovad, said they had also deployed more operatives to ensure security at the hotel. He said they had also solicited UPDF deployment to reinforce the security officers at the hotel. It is a similar scenario at Hotel Zebra. The managing director of the hotel said they had ordered some equipment to step up security. Ambience Discotheque, Drake’s Pub, Vienna Guest House and other popular places have also stepped up security with police deployment.
Posted on: Sun, 06 Oct 2013 08:39:50 +0000
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