How police officers have become major law breakers

Cases of extortion of money from motorists, beatings by police officers are revealed through our investigations, but the Force says residents should report such culprits so that disciplinary action is taken.

Mr Niwabiine says the officer operates in the area to arrest “people that are parking inconsiderably and he has really done a good job along the streets”. He added: “He is protected by law to have the tools because it enables him to remove the plates without damaging the car bumper. What would he use if he did not have a hammer, unless he uses it [hammer] for some other things.” He, however, acknowledges that there are unscrupulous police officers who impersonate traffic officers and paint a bad image of the Force.

“We have arrested several people including a police officer who used to put on our [traffic] uniform and extort money from people. The problem we are facing in trying to curb extortion, is that people do not want to walk into the police station and give us information about officers who extort money from them.”

Mr Niwabiine adds: “I want a person to come to my office and tell me that such an officer did this and that on this day and we will discipline them.” The traffic police introduced the Express Penalty Scheme where officers are supposed to issue offenders with receipts. The offenders then pay the fine, as indicated on the receipt, to the bank.

The receipts are got from a triplicate receipt book issued and signed for at the station of deployment.
They are supposed to report to their bosses how many receipts were issued and the money is computed at the end of the month.

However, it can be confirmed that some officers move with two books-one of them duplicate.
Two drivers said the officers with those books “pluck out receipts to intimidate you” and when money is offered to them, drivers are let free. They say this is done because they are sure the money collected from drivers cannot be tracked.

Fake receipt books
Indeed, our reporter managed to find a place in the city where the officers reportedly buy the books.
The receipt books are sold at Shs250,000 but the price is negotiable and the details of book can be processed within a day.

A proprietor of the stationery shops, says he sells at least one book a week. Speaking on bribery and extortion allegations by officers, police spokesperson, Ms Judith Nabakooba, said: “Definitely, we know that cases of extortion do exist but the problem is for us to get the kind of information you are giving. We rarely get people to come and give us information naming a particular officer, where and when they took the bribe.” She added: “It becomes difficult for us to track those officials and be able to discipline them. But we have had a number of them being disciplined.”

On non-traffic police officers arresting traffic offenders, Ms Nabakooba said: “They are allowed to do it under certain circumstances but they are supposed to hand over the offenders to the nearest traffic officer or inform them.” She said non-traffic police officers are not supposed to charge offenders “because that is not their area of expertise.

Eyewitnesses tell tales of extortion

Kenneth Gafumba (resident of Mengo Kisenyi).
‘I work in a maize mill and I usually leave this place at night-usually after 10 pm. I was going back home one day and I found four policemen near the Kisenyi Taxi Park.

They asked me why I was moving at night and I explained to them. They said I should be searched and one of them told me he had found marijuana in my pocket. I don’t use any drug, I don’t smoke, but I was so surprised. They did not take me to the nearby police stations [St. Balikuddembe Police Station, Muzaana or Kasaato stations] but told me they could release me if I give them money.

Witness two
Every evening at around 7pm, this area [William Street] is usually crowded as the rush-hour sets in. As many city dwellers rush home, some prefer to lounge about in bars, perhaps to allow traffic on the roads to ease before they embark on a stress-free journey home. This is a situation that police have taken advantage of to rob, steal and sometimes torture unsuspecting revellers and pedestrians.

Perhaps to avoid attracting attention, these unscrupulous police officers often operate in twos. Their faces can be so consistent that you identify the same officers showing up for more than a month.
We once chased one and he took the direction of Kampala Road and ran towards Jinja Road Police Station. We suspected he was attached to that very station. Their hub is Arua Park. They come disguised as police officers on a drink-driving operation but instead start arresting almost every pedestrian on sight.

Usually, they are not armed with guns but batons which they use to beat up people who resist “arrest”. After that, they confine you to a corridor and only release you after you have given them “something”.
There are two officers who have become a problem on this street. They “arrest” anyone on sight. I have not seen them torturing their victims unless they resist.

Unlike in the past when we used to run to police for help, we now fear police the way we fear criminals. We know that this street falls under the jurisdiction of Nakasero Police Post, but we have reported there and no action has been taken.