Cops’ spouses get chicks worth Shs150m

The project follows a presidential pledge during the last election campaigns to eradicate poverty within the Force.

President Museveni has given wives of police officers in Kampala Metropolitan Police Area chicks, chicken feeds and other basic equipment to boost their family incomes.

The chicks worth Shs150 million were handed over to the groups yesterday at Naguru Police Barracks. The items were handed over by the National Agricultural Advisory Services Executive Director, Dr Samuel Mugasi, to Ms Elizabeth Muwanga, the director of police in-charge of welfare, who also passed them over to the beneficiaries.

Dr Mugasi said they were just fulfilling the President’s pledge to the officers’ spouses. “We have made sure the groups have been trained in rearing poultry and we are targeting only women in urban areas,” Dr Mugasi said.
Dr Mugasi said the chicken feeds and vaccine they have given to the officers will last up to the time they are ready for sale.

On work
Ms Muwanga said the welfare of police officers has a direct bearing on their performance at work therefore the spouses of the policemen and other concerned people must make sure that they sustain the businesses.

“Before every budget, members of Parliament often visit the police barracks and see the situation there but there is nothing much we have seen,” Ms Muwanga said.
On whether the project would be compatible with the police standing orders that bar officers from establishing farms in the barracks land and transfers, Ms Muwanga said they had worked on a modality to cater for that.

The officers were given funds following a directive by President Museveni that the Agriculture ministry finances poverty eradication projects within the Force.
Mr Museveni visited police barracks during the 2011 election campaigns and found officers with small scale poultry businesses and growing mushrooms.

The women had late last year staged a demonstration over power disconnections, low income and dilapidated houses. Since the demonstrations, the Uganda Police Force has started selling to police officers foodstuff and building materials at a subsidised price.

abagala@ug.nationmedia.com