In 2014, PSU received 2639 complaints, 2547 complaints were lodged in 2015, PSU registered 2660 complaints in 2016, PSU received 2271 complaints in 2017, the 2018 complaints stood at 2383 while PSU recorded 2174 complaints in the year 2019.
There is increasing fear among the Police force as the deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen Paul
Lokech prepares to release a list of corrupt police officers soon.
Maj. Gen Lokech announced a fortnight ago, that over 100 police
personnel were to be dismissed from the police force after repeatedly being involved
in corruption incidents.
The deputy police chief in February, according to security
officers at Naguru police headquarters, tasked acting commissioner police Professional
Standards Unit, Sarah Kibwika, to list all police officers who have severally been
implicated in numerous corruption scandals.
Kibwika has reportedly been working with the
anti-corruption department at Criminal Investigations Directorate in Kibuli and
human resource management to review all files of policemen and women repeatedly
accused of being corrupt.
“By end of last month, PSU had tabled 120 names and
most of them have five or more corruption incidents in which they have been
cited. Some have been tried in police court and convicted. After getting the
list, that was when DIGP (Gen. Lokech) told journalists that the list would soon
be released,” a source said.
Gen. Lokech hopes the naming, shaming as well as dismissal
of police personnel implicated in corruption will serve as an example to
others. Besides, it would show police officers that corruption and bribery as
have no room in the force.
Sources say 70 out of 120 police officers so far on the list
are junior and senior police detectives. It is alleged that a good number of
detectives have been intentionally misplacing case files, partly the reason why police
takes only 35 percent of total cases registered every year. In 2019, CID took
over 70000 cases to court despite having recorded more than 225000 crimes.
“The list is likely to grow to over 180 people because
there are pending names of traffic officers and 999 Patrols. I am one of the
people who have seen the list and other names still being scrutinized. It is going
to be bad for officers whose names will be published,” a source added.
ACP John Williams Okalanyi, in his last address to the
media, before he was replaced as PSU commandant, said on average 2000 general complaints
are lodged by civilians against police personnel every year.
In 2014, PSU received 2639 complaints, 2547 complaints
were lodged in 2015, PSU registered 2660 complaints in 2016, PSU received 2271
complaints in 2017, the 2018 complaints stood at 2383 while PSU recorded 2174 complaints
in the year 2019.
PSU in the last five years indicates that most of the
complaints have been about corruption, bribery, torture, detention without
trial and general human rights abuses. ACP Okalanyi added that on average PSU
disposes off more than 1500 complaints every year.
//cue in “For purpose…
Cue out “…properly.”//
Nonetheless, Gen Lokech’s decision to publicize and
dismiss the alleged corrupt police officers has created debate at police
headquarters as some senior policemen and women suspect that a number of suits
could arise from the decision.
“For a policeman to be dismissed from the force, he
must have been accorded fair trial and that is police court if it’s disciplinary
matter. If its criminal, it must be in a competent court. Corruption is
criminal and thus cases must be heard in criminal courts. I am waiting to see
how it will be handled,” said one of the top police officers.
Even after a police officer has been convicted in
police court, he or she can appeal in the appellate court currently chaired by
AIGP Asan Kasingye. “When the appellate court upholds the lower court
judgement, a policeman can be dismissed immediately if he or she is in the
junior category,” a senior policeman added.
But if a police officer is the senior category for
instance Assistant Superintendent of Police –ASP and Assistant Inspector
General of Police – AIGP, he or she can only be sacked by Police Authority
chaired by Internal Affairs minister.
Joseph Kato is currently a Master's candidate at Makerere University. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Mass Communication from Kampala International University, a Diploma in Journalism and he's also a graduate in Guidance and Counseling.