Neighbourhood watch and national security in Uganda : a case of Kampala District

Abstract

The study being a library-based research adopted a qualitative method of investigation, which used qualitative document review approach by basing on secondary data and this enabled me to review the available literature in order to obtain the necessary information. This enabled the researcher to go to libraries several times reviewing documents related to an examination of the role of neighborhood watch to national security in Uganda with Kampala District as a case study. It was revealed according to the neighborhood watch program that neighborhood watch might be effective in increasing surveillance, reducing opportunities and enhancing informal social control. Unfortunately, very few studies provide information on the mechanisms by which neighborhood watch might reduce crime. The study recommends that the task of developing Neighborhood Watch and ensuring that it is effective is not a job for the police alone. More work needs to be done by researchers to help understand the mechanisms by which Neighborhood Watch influence crime and more also needs to be done by policymakers and government officials to disseminate information about the good practice of neighborhood watch program in order to promote national security. There should also be inclusion and sensitization of communities in the formulation and implementation of neighborhood watch programs. The community should be involved from the formulation stage in order to avoid the perception of the community being mere recipients of the policy and encourage the notion of partnership. Further research needs to be conducted into the interplay/relationship between neighborhood watch and national security. Special focus should be paid on researching about the negative correlation between the two concepts. An extensive study needs to be conducted on how such initiatives that were meant to provide security to the community go awry and start to pose a threat to national security.