As the Uganda Police Force celebrated 100 years last week, some officers went to social media and other public platforms to express their disappointment over the promotions that had been approved by the president. More than 4000 promotions were announced with 355 senior officers benefiting from them.
As the Uganda Police Force celebrated 100 years last week, some officers went to social media and other public platforms to express their disappointment over the promotions that had been approved by the president.
More than 4000 promotions were announced with 355 senior officers benefiting from them.
Former Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Henry Kalulu was one of the officers who took to social media, posting on Facebook: “For the second time in a row I feel betrayed.â€
According to the Deputy Police spokesperson, Polly Namaye, some errors could have occurred and some names forgotten while some people had discipline cases.
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Police promotions have over the years moved from bottom to top where they would first be given due to good performance and skills and shortly be followed by deployment to an office befitting the new rank.
In recent years, however, police has resorted to having hundreds of senior officers in acting positions and after years giving them promotions to fit the office.
Cadet Officers who were approved in 2007 were deployed to the office of District and Divisional Commanders (DPC) since 2008 at the rank of ASP. The police structures specify that an officer to be a DPC should be at the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP). However, most of these DPCs were promoted in 2012 while others were recently promoted.
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Internal Affairs Dr Stephen Kagonda says the officers have been undergoing training in the respective offices and that's the only way their ability can be weighed before promoting them.
Kagoda says deploying them first before promoting them is one way of testing them and establishing their ability to serve in the demanding offices.
Most senior officers are promoted to another rank basing on their title of deployment. For example, Dr Moses Byarugaba, the Acting Director of Police Medical Services, has for the last five years been a Commissioner of Police until a week ago when he was promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police.
Promotion can also be based on the training and courses attended by various officers while for junior officers it is mainly based on recommendation by supervisors.
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In 2012, 423 senior and junior officers were promoted, with some benefiting again from the 2014 promotions. These include Director Traffic, Stephen Kasiima, Director for Wefare Beata Chelimo, and head of political and Media crime Fred Mirondo. Others are Kampala Metropolitan community Liaison Officer Anatoli Muleterwa, Regional Police Commander (RPC) Kampala East Siraj Bakaleke, RPC Kampala South James Ruhweza, and Director Fire Safety Joseph Mugisa among many others.
In the last seven years, less than 5,000 promotions have been made in a police force of 41,000 people.
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