There are certain things that should never be left to happen in a country even when it is facing hard times, but Uganda never ceases to be the exception.

Last Friday, gunmen in Mbale raided the home of an American missionary, Micheal Stachofsky and shot him dead. Shocking as it is, there is nothing unusual about this because many Ugandans are killed in a similar way all the time.

But what Ugandans will find sad is the fact that, like other Ugandans that have been murdered in cold blood, Stachofsky could not be rescued or his killers apprehended in time for the simple reason that police lacked means of transport to get to the scene!

According to Police in Mbale, one surveillance vehicle, which has been assisting them, is currently grounded. As a result, police there cannot respond to distress calls.

The MP for Bubulo West, Edward Wesonga Kamana speaking at the scene of murder, quickly blamed government for the poorly facilitated police.

The MP could not have found any other better person to blame. Providing security is one of the major services government often uses to justify tax collection from Ugandans.

Unfortunately, it defeats the logic of the same taxpayers when the same government which boasts of increased tax collection year after year, fails to provide police with basic facilitation like transport.

Like some people observed when President Yoweri Museveni appointed Maj. Gen. Katumba Wamala Inspector General of Police, leadership is only a small fraction of police's numerous problems.

Besides being armed, police need a lot of facilitation both at the stations and in the field. Without this, the increase in population and crime will continue to outstrip the pace at which police is being facilitated, if at all.

Take the case of Traffic Police. Most Ugandans can hardly recall when they last saw them ride on motorbikes. Surely we must not always wait for donors to come in before facilitating our Police.