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.

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.

Even if you have a problem like bumping into thieves and made an alarm, these police officers, who sometimes claim to be on night patrol, will not come out to help you.

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com