Makerere don defends police on corruption

By Pascal Kwesiga    
                       
Dr. Simba Kayunga, a lecturer of political science at Makerere University has defended the police force against allegations of corruption, saying the institution is not corrupt.

Several studies have ranked the police and the judiciary as the most corrupt institutions in the country.

Simba blamed cases of corruption manifested in some police officers and other Ugandans to the corruption in societal values.

“It’s society that is producing corrupt individuals. We should be trying to change societal values to produce people free from corruption instead of focusing on the police force,” he said.

Simba was speaking during the police and civil society dialogue organized by John Paul II justice and peace center at Makerere University in Kampala on Tuesday.

The political science lecturers noted that Ugandans cannot live without the force they continue to demonize on account of the corrupt practices of some its members.

“When we demonize the police we miss the point. Can we live without the police for a week? Who is prepared for the challenge of living without the demonized police for one day? Despite the challenges the police are very important,” Simba said.

His comments were provoked by some participants who blamed the police for being corrupt.