Police suspend 12 over abuse of office

KAMPALA. At least 12 senior police officers have been suspended in two weeks for either neglecting their duties or abusing their offices.
The suspension of officers from different police commands around the country, follows Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura’s new policy dubbed “shape up or ship out,” in which he promised intolerance to laziness and abuse of office in the Force.
One regional police commander, four district/division commanders, officers in charge of stations, criminal investigations and duty stations have been suspended with the latest being Pader and Rakai district police commanders.
The police spokesperson, Mr Fred Enanga, said the suspensions are in accordance with the objective set by the Force to have a professional force.
“The IGP earlier warned all territorial commanders who fail to meet the objectives of the institution by dismantling or significantly reducing activities of major gangs in their territories that they shall be held personally liable,” Mr Enanga said.
The Busoga North commander was suspended and prosecuted after the shooting of a village chairperson in its jurisdiction.
MP Muwanga Kivumbi, also the shadow minister of internal affairs, said the suspensions could rise because of wrong orientation of police officers.
“Ours isn’t a police force. It is a militia, an appendix of the ruling party. Apparently, suspensions won’t be the first or the last,” Mr Muwanga said.
“What we have is a police that is policing the public not a public’s police. That is why you are going to have a conflict,” he added.
Mr Muwanga said Gen Kayihura was trying to enforce a militaristic concept on the police and neither him (Gen Kayihura) nor the police officers would get it right.
He said the police need a comprehensive police review report to reform, but their management has refused to implement it because it is not compatible with the regime strategies.
Since 2010, more than 8,000 police officers - in the police force with a strength of 43,000 officers - have been investigated for indiscipline and criminal related cases.

Those suspended

Both the district commander and officer in charge of crime investigations, Mr Ambrose Edule Sabiti and Mr Enyang Anterio respectively, have been suspended and forwarded to Professional Standards Unit (PSU) for investigations. Mr Taban Chiriga, the officer in charge criminal department in Rakai, was also suspended and is to report to PSU pending investigation.

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