Stop ‘stealing’ our husbands, police wives tell female cops
Kampala Metropolitan police commander Andrew Felix Kaweesi marches with officers’ spouses during a demonstration early this month. The women have told IGP Kayihura to ask female officers not to seduce their husbands. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA.
What you need to know:
The officers’ spouses asked the IGP to expose female officers who have affairs with their husbands instead of sticking to the calls of duty.
Kampala
Police officers’ wives have urged the Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, to caution female officers against ‘stealing’ their husbands and later intimidate them.
The revelation was made on Saturday by police officers’ spouses from Naguru, Kireka and Ntinda barracks, in a meeting with the IGP at the Naguru Forensic Offices.
The officers’ wives in unison told Gen. Kayihura that the policewomen both in and out of the barracks are “protecting and serving” their husbands, instead of duty calls, which partly angered them to go on a demonstration early this month.
The women insisted that the IGP investigates the matter and bring suspects to light, because they could not tolerate ‘co-wives’ with the power of the uniform to continuously threaten them.
“Our husbands behave strange when they return from work, mistreat us and even say they (female cops) do things we cannot do,” one woman said.
The IGP was addressing the officers’ spouses over their litany of grievances they expressed one after the other, which they argued forced them to take to the streets.
Carrying charcoal stoves, sauce pans, cups, and plates, brandishing tree branches, and shouting at the top of their voices, the women made several demands. “We need power. We are hungry. Pay our husbands now,” the women and their children from three barracks said.
They also decried poor sanitation and frequent electricity blackouts in their housing units.
Gen. Kayihura apologised to the women for the mishaps, saying he would immediately take over the administration of the barracks. “With effect from today, I am taking over the management of these barracks since those delegated to do so have failed,” Gen. Kayihura told the group.
New homes
He added that construction of the new homes in the three barracks would take off as soon as possible. The IGP further noted that the Force works on a budget of Shs294 billion with the biggest expenditure going to salaries, which he said, was the reason the rehabilitation of the barracks had not been done.
With some of the senior officials present, the police boss tasked them to construct new pit-latrines, ensure that all the garbage is collected from the barracks while a contractor to build the new apartments is sought.
Among other problems the IGP promised to address urgently are; promotions, salary increments and salary delays, barracks, health facilities, the increased crime rate and civilians staying in the barracks while enjoying and straining the little resources available.
The deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mr Laban Muhabwe, was asked by the IGP to address all the problems as soon as possible, but could not commit himself on the issue of officers engaging in extra-marital affairs with female counterparts.
