Detectives suspended over drugs, OPM scam

Directive. The police, in a message to its units, directs that the suspension of six detectives take immediate effect as investigations into their conduct begin.

The police have suspended detectives in the narcotics department and ordered the Police Professional Standard Unit to investigate them on allegations of conniving with drug barons and frustrating ongoing investigations in the Office of the Prime Minister.

In a police message sent by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr Martin Okoth-Ochola, to all police units, he said the order takes immediate effect.

The suspensions have affected the entire narcotics department at the Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Directorate headquarters.
Mr Vicent Ssekate, the deputy police spokesperson, confirmed the suspension but denied allegations that the officers were referred to PSU because of the narcotics and OPM scandal.

“Apart from one, who was part of the OPM investigations, the rest are from a different department. So it is not true that they have been suspended because of OPM saga. Some have been referred to PSU while others to HRM for redeployment,” Mr Ssekate said.

Police sources speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to speak for the Force, said yesterday that trouble started from the death of former Butaleja Woman MP Cerinah Nebanda.

It is alleged that some of the officers knew the drug barons but decided to betray their roles.

However, one of the suspended officers, who spoke to this newspaper but requested to remain unnamed for fear of being reprimanded, said he knew nothing about the suspension.

“It is true I have been informed about that development but the director (CIID) knows better. You can as well get the details from the message. I don’t know why they did it,” the officer said.
The suspensions come at a time when the Force is investigating several ministries on financial scandals and individuals who are accused of dealing in drugs.

rwanambwa@ug.nationmedia.com