The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP), Maj Gen Geoffrey Katsigazi, is concerned about the bad relationship in the form of graft between the force and the community it is obliged to serve diligently.
Speaking at the pass out of 193 station command officers at Kabalye Police Training School in Masindi Friday, the police officer was bitter that the police have over the years gained notoriety in the face of the public as a corrupt institution whose personnel do not serve beyond self.
“The police is known for bad things only. It’s unfortunate! 95% of the police officers are not corrupt despite a few bad apples spoiling the image of the police driving it to score the first position of corruption without any competition,” Maj Gen Katsigazi said.
He told the officers to emphasise on ethics, character and discipline among the police personnel under their administration as they are critical areas in any successful force.
Gen Katsigazi also told the commanders to play their role professionally, serve and protect people and their properties instead of soliciting for backhanders from them.
“It’s not a good image! You officers go out and find medicine for that in your various stations. No one else is going to fight the bad image some personnel have portrayed before the public apart from you. You should ensure that this year 2022 police should not appear number one on the list of being corrupt. We are tired of this bad image,” the DIGP added.
The Station Command Course 2nd Intake began on February 5, 2022, with 197 participants but only 193 completed after the four discontinued for reasons the Kabalye Police Training School Commandant, ASP Abu-Bakr Ziwede, did not reveal.
During the course, participants underwent several modules including human rights, political education, police duties and procedures among others for which the commandant said he was optimistic that once practised, the officers will execute their work efficiently.
At the same function, absa Bank Uganda donated IT equipment to Kabalye Police Training School worth Shs131m.
These included 10 laptop and 60 desktop computers, a projector and internet connection equipment for the school’s resource centre.
Receiving the donation from the Managing Director absa Bank Uganda, Mr Kalifungwa Mumba, Maj Gen Katsigazi said this is a major milestone for the institution at this time when the world is moving towards a deepening digital ecosystem critical for every aspect of society to adapt to as a growing trend.
Mr Kalifungwa, thus, said that in pursuit of the bank’s efforts to make purposeful their objectives, the financial institution is committed to facilitating education and skills development as well as promoting a just society by supporting efforts with the aim to increase the efficiency of public institutions like the Uganda Police Force.
He was hopeful that the equipment will assist the police to execute their duties industriously.
The donation comes at a time when the police force has augmented efforts to integrate ICT in fighting crime.
This follows the efforts that saw Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras installed in various parts of the country although those of Hoima city stopped working several months ago.
Uganda Police corruption level
In 2021, the Uganda Police Force (UPF) again emerged the most corrupt institution in Uganda.
The Fourth National Integrity Survey Report ranked the general police as the worst department in extorting money from members of the public in the form of bribery.
The general duties police department standing at 70% overall was followed by the traffic police department at 67% and the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID).
Several reports, including Transparency International, have consistently ranked the UPF as the most corrupt institution in Uganda.
The survey was conducted by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) on behalf of the Inspectorate of Government in 15 sub-regions of Uganda representing both rural and urban areas.
