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Minister Katumba urges police officers to save 10% of their salaries
Katumba, who served as Uganda’s Inspector General of Police after joining the police from the military, made the call at a reunion of police cadet officers recruited in 2001 at Skyz Hotel in Naguru on Friday evening.
Public Service Minister Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala has urged police officers to develop a strong culture of saving. (Photo by Maria Wamala)
By: Ibrahim Ruhweza, Journalist @New Vision
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Public Service Minister Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala has urged police officers to develop a strong culture of saving, warning them not to wait until retirement to start thinking about their financial future.
Katumba, who served as Uganda’s Inspector General of Police after joining the police from the military, made the call at a reunion of police cadet officers recruited in 2001 at Skyz Hotel in Naguru on Friday evening.
The reunion brought together officers who began their careers under Katumba’s tenure, many of whom have since risen to senior and responsible positions within the Uganda Police Force.
Katumba recalled the difficult relationship that existed between the Police and the army at the time he was transferred into the Police 25 years ago.
“I was posted to the Police in 2001, and I was coming in, as you heard Rego say, from another force (army) into another setting. At that time, unfortunately, there was still that bad blood between the police and the army."
Katumba said the experience helped build resilience and strengthened the bond among the officers, who eventually proved that the decision to recruit and train them had been the right one.
“I am happy that my first cadets who were recruited during my tenure have made it this far and you are holding very many posts and responsible positions in the Police Force,” said the former IGP.
Katumba thanked the officers for maintaining their integrity and service over the past 25 years, saying their achievements had also vindicated those who recruited and mentored them.
“If you had ended up being drunkards or wasted people, you would have said the military man brought nothing. But the military man came in and brought a very good group of officers."
Beyond celebrating their achievements, Katumba challenged the officers to maintain the culture of coming together, saying regular gatherings could help officers share experiences, challenges and developments in their personal lives.
“It may not necessarily be in a hotel. Even calling each other at home…you can decide that this weekend we go to somebody’s house.
He encouraged the group to keep checking on one another and supporting each other, warning that isolation can make life unnecessarily difficult.
“I am happy that my first cadets who were recruited during my tenure have made it this far and you are holding very many posts and responsible positions in the Police Force,” said the former IGP.
Katumba thanked the officers for maintaining their integrity and service over the past 25 years, saying their achievements had also vindicated those who recruited and mentored them.
“If you had ended up being drunkards or wasted people, you would have said the military man brought nothing. But the military man came in and brought a very good group of officers."
Beyond celebrating their achievements, Katumba challenged the officers to maintain the culture of coming together, saying regular gatherings could help officers share experiences, challenges and developments in their personal lives.
“It may not necessarily be in a hotel. Even calling each other at home…you can decide that this weekend we go to somebody’s house.
He encouraged the group to keep checking on one another and supporting each other, warning that isolation can make life unnecessarily difficult.
More importantly, the minister urged police officers to start saving a portion of their salaries immediately, regardless of how small their earnings may seem.
“My appeal to you is that much as the salary is not a lot, try to inculcate a saving culture. Once you know your salary, make a commitment. Ten percent of that, don’t touch it; let it go straight to saving.
“Don’t say, ‘I will save after spending’. That’s not saving."
Katumba was responding to Nyabushozi County MP Wilson Kajwengye, who said those retiring are not getting their packages as they should, which suggested that the majority of the officers retire with not much saving to push them for their new life.
The minister also encouraged the officers to establish an investment club within their 2001 cohort, saying collective saving and investment could help them build wealth and support one another.
Simeo Nsubuga, a member of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, said the future of the Police is about technology, and he encouraged the government to invest more in new forms of technology.
“The quality of human resources is not numbers but how we respond to the current need,” he said.
Former Assistant Inspector General of Police Grace Akullo said that of the 70 members who were recruited from different walks of life, some of them have since passed on, including former police spokesperson Andrew Felix Andrew Kaweesi, who was shot dead in March 2017.
“My appeal to you is that much as the salary is not a lot, try to inculcate a saving culture. Once you know your salary, make a commitment. Ten percent of that, don’t touch it; let it go straight to saving.
“Don’t say, ‘I will save after spending’. That’s not saving."
Katumba was responding to Nyabushozi County MP Wilson Kajwengye, who said those retiring are not getting their packages as they should, which suggested that the majority of the officers retire with not much saving to push them for their new life.
The minister also encouraged the officers to establish an investment club within their 2001 cohort, saying collective saving and investment could help them build wealth and support one another.
Simeo Nsubuga, a member of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, said the future of the Police is about technology, and he encouraged the government to invest more in new forms of technology.
“The quality of human resources is not numbers but how we respond to the current need,” he said.
Former Assistant Inspector General of Police Grace Akullo said that of the 70 members who were recruited from different walks of life, some of them have since passed on, including former police spokesperson Andrew Felix Andrew Kaweesi, who was shot dead in March 2017.