Deputy IGP Muzeeyi shocked by micromanagement in police
Brig Muzeeyi inspects a guard of honour during the pass out of officers at Kigo prison last month. PHOTO BY JOSEPH KATO
KAMPALA - The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Brig Sabiiti Muzeeyi, has been shocked by the level of micromanagement in the Force, saying it undermines structures and discipline.
Brig Muzeeyi made the remarks as Mr Frank Mwesigwa handed over the office of the Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) commander to his deputy, Mr Denis Namuwoza, at Central Police Station Kampala.
Mr Namuwoza took over the office because the new KMP commander, Mr Moses Kafeero Kabugo, is still away in the US.
A source, who attended the meeting, said Brig Muzeeyi revealed that in the few days he has been in the Force, he has had to deal with issues which ideally should be handled by officers at lower levels.
“He said the IGP should not be handling cases of the level of a police station and that is not the role of the IGP,” the source said.
He said every police commander at any level should be allowed to deal with issues in his or her locality.
In March, President Museveni appointed Brig Muzeeyi deputy Inspector General of Police to replace Mr Martins Okoth-Ochola, who was elevated to the position of IGP after Gen Kale Kayihura was dropped.
Both Mr Ochola and Brig Muzeeyi have the same management style of ensuring that existing structures are effective. Brig Muzeeyi reportedly told commanders that he wants police structures to be respected like it is in the army where a general is not allowed to do the work of a section commander.
He said officers-in-charge of police stations have supervisory roles and if their officers fail to perform, the former should be held accountable.
“I don’t want to come to manage a police station. That is your work. Make sure that your station is the best managed. If you do that, then I will have no problem with you,” a source quoted him as saying.
The deputy IGP ordered commanders to instill discipline among their officers by applying two methods; educational and mechanical.
In the education method, he said commanders should hold several periodical meetings with the officers they supervise. And if the officers fail to adhere to discipline, the mechanical method of laws and regulations should be applied.
“He said the officers should avoid being caught on the wrong side of the law because he does not want to embarrass a fellow officer. But if the officer is undisciplined, he will be forced to act,” the source said.
The source said he warned officers, except those in the public relations department, against revealing information to the press.
KMP spokesman Luke Owoyesigire confirmed the meeting but could not reveal details beyond what was in the press release, which touched on improving the police image.
