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.

Kampala

Many Ugandans of the older generation will recall their primary schools lessons; that if you are in trouble, call the police. The police distress number 999 is perhaps one of the earliest telephone numbers any child memorised.

The sight of a police in uniform often created hope and brought calmness to restless situations. It also created panic among criminals or those harbouring criminal intentions. This is because police was responsible for law and order, as mandated by Article 211 of the Constitution of Uganda. But many things have changed over the years and the sight of a police in uniform – whether it is the khaki brown, camouflage blue or the spotless (usually faded) white – no longer means security.

As the Saturday Monitor reveals, some members of the force, or those that are impersonating them, are at the forefront of crime and insecurity especially in the urban centres. On the night of April 22, for instance, Richard (not real name), was craving for Nyama Choma (roasted meat) when, along with a friend, they took a walk along William Street to see what was on the offering at the many veranda bars that come alive every evening.

Looking at the poor hygiene surrounding the roasters, they decided to abandon the mission despite the attractive smell of roasted meat. But as they moved towards Mapeera House and Pioneer Mall on their way back home, they witnessed two uniformed police officers with a civilian. To their shock, the civilian called out to them for help. He was screaming “munyambe banziba” [literally meaning “help, they are robbing me.”]

Robbery allegation
Richard and his friend decided to find out just what was going on. The civilian told them that the police constables were trying to rob him. When Richard and his colleagues questioned the constables further, they [police officers] fled towards Wilson Street and onward towards Arua Park.

One disappeared into a corridor while the other – now chased by Richard, his friend and the man they had just rescued – was arrested and handed over to a police patrol van that had pulled into the vicinity.
Police took the arrested colleague to Central Police Station, but on following up the case the next day, no file had been opened.

Since the close of last year, police increased its operations to clamp down on drunken driving as one of the measures to help reduce the numbers of road fatalities in the country. However, different sections of the public have raised eyebrows over the way the operations are being carried out with allegations of abuse of the law.

Investigations by this newspaper have established that frequent traffic and general operations have become an avenue for extortion for some of the police officers involved. For instance, an Irish national (name withheld) had a drink at one of the popular bars in Kampala and as he was driving in the city centre, traffic police officers on a drink-driving operation stopped him.

Realising that he is a foreigner, they demanded for a spot fee of $200 dollars (Shs500,000). On pleading that he did not have the money in cash, two officers sat with him in the car and accompanied him to an Automated Teller Machine at Acacia Avenue where he withdrew the money and handed it over to them. The officials reportedly issued him their contacts and told him that if he is ever stopped at any “drink-driving” operation roadblock, he gives them a call as he had already “cleared his dues in advance”.

This newspaper understands that the express fine for drink-drivers is supposed to be officially implemented starting May 15 where on-the-spot payment of a fine is required. Before that, offenders were supposed to be taken to court, charged and given a fine of at least Shs300,000.

There has continued to be a thin line between police officers and traffic officers, and this has continued to aid extortion as the two bodies do not differentiate their roles, especially in handling traffic issues.
This loophole has been exploited by police officers especially in their khaki and blue and white camouflage uniforms.

The latter especially, have been discovered to stage at certain points for example along Yusuf Lule Road (Near Golf Course Hotel in particular); ask for traffic requirements from motorists-largely motorcyclists.
The officers remove the igniting keys and to get off the hook, the owners of the bikes first give “something”.

Between the Mulago hospital round-about to Jinja Road traffic lights via Yusuf Lule Road for example, there are at least 10 traffic police officers, according to an observation by this newspaper. Mr Lawrence Niwabiine, the Commander Kampala Traffic, says there is a procedure that is followed while posting officers at certain roads. He, however, said only a traffic officer in uniform is supposed to arrest an automobile operator, but not police officers.

In some instances, traffic officers have been discovered to have tools such as hammers and chisels that they use to pluck off number plates from vehicles such that owners allegedly pay them to recover their plates. One of the officers operates along Luwum Street, in Kampala in a white saloon car, according to investigations by this newspaper.