CSOs demand audit of police guns, personnel

KAMPALA.

Human rights activists have called for an independent commission to audit police guns and personnel as a way of curbing the surging crime in the country.
The Human Rights Network Uganda (Hurinet) yesterday said a comprehensive inquiry would among other things unravel wrong elements within the Uganda Police Force (UPF) that could be engaging in criminal activities or hobnobbing with rogues that terrorise Ugandans.
Mr Muhammad Ndifuna, the executive director of Hurinet, referring to reports where police guns have been recovered from criminals and President Museveni’s public admission that Police was infiltrated with criminals, said an audit into the number of guns in the country and policemen’s conduct could offer solutions to the skyrocketing crime.
“There’s need for a Commission of Inquiry into the human rights violations in the UPF to help investigate allegations of police officers involved in criminal activities and hold officers involved to account,” Mr Ndifuna said. A report released by recomposed Flying Squad Unit (FSU) early this year showed 21 out of the 52 guns recovered from criminals in 2017 had police and army marks.

About arrests
More than a dozen senior police and army officers have been arrested by army on allegations of involvement in several crimes.
Last Wednesday former Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura was summoned by the army and is still being detained at the Makindye Military Barracks. Mr Ndifuna, however, also castigated President Museveni for failing to offer an explanation on why senior security police officers were detained.
The President while addressing Parliament about the state of the country’s security on Wednesday went mute on why the senior police officers were detained.
Mr Patrick Tumwine, the Hurinet programme officer, in regard to Gen Kayihura’s detention, asked the army to respect Article 23 of the Constitution that provides for detaining suspects for not more than 48 hours.