CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
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Uganda |
SOCIAL CONDIT.
The Uganda Police Force has for a long time been rated as the most corrupt institution in Uganda, and has been accused of being too slow in investigating cases and prosecuting criminals.
But the situation is gradually changing for the better, as the police force rebuilds its image
The problem with the Uganda Police has been partly due to weaknesses in the institution itself and partly due to politics. In the year 2000, a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Corruption and Abuse of Office in the Uganda Police, concluded there was corruption especially by senior officers, and in the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the Traffic Department.
It also reported abuse of office especially in the tendering process for provision of services to police. The Commission of Inquiry, headed by Justice Julie Sebutinde, a High Court judge, conducted public hearings at which senior officers testified about their conduct and assets, whilst members of the public testified about their grievances against the police.
Failings in the police service
Confidence in the police sank to a very low ebb when senior personnel, particularly those responsible for investigation of serious crime, were accused of taking bribes to alter cases or to cover up crimes, thus enabling the suspects to evade prosecution and deny justice to Ugandans.
This was against a backdrop of rising crime throughout Uganda. The lack of public confidence in the ability of the police to investigate and prosecute suspected criminals, gave rise to mob justice and public lynching of suspected criminals.
Some police officers have been implicated in criminal activities. The judicial inquiry brought to light that one senior police officer was involved in hiring out guns to robbers in Kampala.
In June 2002, close to Ushs. 12 million went missing after police officers had recovered that amount from an incident where they had killed four robbers following a robbery in Kampala. In September 2002, three police officers in Kampala stole Ushs. 10 million from robbers and two of the oficers fled with the money.
Following the judicial inquiry, some of the officers named were dismissed and fresh appointments made. However, the public was dissatisfied with the government for not prosecuting the officers implicated in corruption and abuse of office.
Measures taken
President Yoweri Museveni suggested that in order to fight violent crime, the police service needed to be transformed as soon as possible. «That is why I have appointed Maj. Gen. Katumba Wamala to carry out that transformation,» he said. «With a good police force and judiciary, the situation must change for the better».
Radical measures were taken to fight the escalating armed robberies and violent murders in the country. One such measure was «Operation Wembley», launched on 25 June 2002 on the President’s orders. It was a joint operation involving the Uganda Police, the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) and other security agencies.
Since its establishment, hundreds of suspected criminals have been arrested and others killed. Those arrested are tried by a military court — something that lawyers and human rights activists say is illegal and unconstitutional.
But not all was not well within «Operation Wembley» as there have been abuses. Its personnel have committed excesses such as wrongful and illegal arrests; plus physical torture of those arrested. Some people masquerading as «Operation Wembley» operatives have illegally arrested innocent people and extorted money from them.
However, Police spokesman Asuman Mugenyi says: «Operation Wembley» has now been restructured and transformed into the Violent Crime Crack Unit (VCCU) under the Uganda Police.
There have been problems with the police because of neglect by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government, which has been «hostile» to the police since 1986 when Museveni took power. Museveni complained that generally the police did not vote for him during the 2001 presidential election. Also, the government has been accused of neglecting the police force at the expense of the army.
Don’t forget that the nucleus of the army had been with Museveni when he waged his guerrilla war from the bush, and had accompanied him when he came in «out of the cold». The President denies having deliberately neglected the police. He says there have been problems with institutions such as the police which could not be changed overnight. He says that first of all he’s had to change the army from a guerrilla force into a new national army.
The public’s appreciation
Notwithstanding the shortage of manpower and facilities, the police have endeavoured to keep law and order. In spite of its current shortcomings, the vast majority of the public agree that the police do a good job under difficult circumstances. The public believes the Executive has publicly blamed the police instead of finding ways to strengthen the force by providing more personnel and facilities.
Harmony Cares, an NGO offering counselling services, organised a community appreciation function for the Uganda Police Force in Kampala on 28 February 2003. Olivia Kyambadde, Harmony Cares’ chairperson, says the police have for a long time been scorned by the public who have a negative attitude towards the Force. «We should look over and above any negative aspects and learn to appreciate the little positive things the police does. This way we will be able to help the force rebuild its image».
Improving the Service
Members of Parliament, civil society and the general public agree that the police as a law enforcement body should be enlarged, strengthened, well trained and adequately equipped so as to have the possibility of carrying out its obligations under the law. There are less than 15,000 police personnel in a country with a population of 24.6 million people.
The Uganda Police continues to get capacity-building assistance in the areas of training and facilities from the British government, its major traditional supporter. On 28 February 2003, the US Ambassador to Uganda, Jimmy Kolker, said the US government has pledged to continue funding the training needs of the Uganda Police Force over the next three years.
The Inspector General of Police, Major-General Wamala, says corruption remains the main challenge for the police. He has vowed to take tough action against corrupt officers and those who corrupt them. Indeed, a number of police personnel have been discharged from the force for indulging in corruption.
But the public have a role to play, also, in stamping out corruption. Motorists are warned against bribing the Traffic Police. Wamala says this has escalated the carnage on the roads as a result of motor vehicle accidents. «We can’t fight corruption if we still have such tendencies. A policeman who has been bribed cannot perform his duty well. The job will be haphazardly done if at all he does anything».
The police force has embarked on instilling discipline within the institution. Fred Yiga, Commissioner for Human Resource Management in the Uganda Police, is in charge of the rehabilitation of alcoholics in the police. Once identified, alcoholic officers have to go through two weeks of rigorous physical exercises.
In May 2002, about 350 habitually drunk officers from upcountry stations undertook the initial rehabilitation course at the Kibuli Police Training School in Kampala. Some 81 officers were made to undergo professional counselling. Commissioner Yiga appealed to the officers to understand why they are part of the Police Force. «You are here so that your inner-self can be in a position to guide you to serve the force better. We expect you to serve the force with vigour after you leave this place and to realize that jobs are competitive».
An interesting initiative in working with the police is that of the community policing programme, where the public is involved in all policing activities. Crime prevention is a major sub-programme under this programme.
John Kamya is the Officer-in-Charge of Community Policing and Crime Prevention in the Uganda Police. He says crime prevention is an approach to stop crimes before they are committed. «It is a pro-active approach to dealing with crime as opposed a re-active one». He said it requires simple strategies for reducing crime.
They include, for example, making it difficult for attractive objects to be stolen by making them difficult to be removed. This involves the fitting of strong doors, fitting burglar proofing, electrifying fences, fitting alarm systems, etc.
Another strategy is the involvement of communities as a group in crime prevention. «Formation of Neighbourhood Watch Schemes in residential areas is very important. Neighbours should be able to watch each other’s homes and report suspicious circumstances,» Kamya said. This will also require the setting up of more police posts in the countryside to ensure effective community policing.
All in all, it’s clear that Uganda is serious about improving its police service.