Kirumira resignation: Police responds

SECURITY

KAMPALA - The Police has said ASP Muhammad Kirumira's announcing of his resignation is "an act of gross indiscipline" that is "not tolerated" by the Force.

It followed an announcement by the Buyende District Police Commander that he had quit the Force on Wednesday.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Kirumira cited frustrations from top Police bosses in his work as one of the reasons he had decided to quit.

"I have realised that my image before the administration will never change and given the fact that I am still a young man, I have resigned from the force to enable the Police court fulfill their motives," he wrote.

Hours later, Police spokesperson Emilian Kayima issued a press release in reponse to Kirumira's announcement, saying it "cannot be tolerated by the Uganda Police Force".

"For any Police officer wanting to exit the force, s/he should write to the Secretary Police Authority, who is the PS Ministry of Internal Affairs," the Police statement said.

Kirumira, who previously served as officer in charge of Nansana Police Station, said his recent arraignment before the Police disciplinary committee court in Naguru, Kampala was part of a plan to paint him as a criminal.

He described the charges as framed up and that they were as old as seven years old.

At the time, the police commander was charged with extortion, corruption, bribery, torture, unlawful arrests and excessive use of authority.

"Part IV of the Police Act guides us on appointments, promotions, recruitment, service and discharge or termination of appointments. For that matter, therefore, ASP Kirumira Muhammad cannot and should not resign from the Uganda Police Force through a watsup [sic] message or through granting interviews to the media," Kayima said.

 

'No sympathies'

He called as "unfortunate" what had befallen Kirumira (pictured above).

"He is currently undergoing a disciplinary court with numerous cases.

"Section 31 of the disciplinary code of conduct explains in detail grounds from which an officer can be disciplined once that officer has breached the code. It includes but [is] not limited to interdiction and suspension," Kayima said.

The Police spokesperson went on to warn other officers against excitement "over nothing".

"When the full wrath of the law weighs on you, it will be you alone to tell the story and you will surely need no sympathies.

"The public demands and expects higher ethical standards from all Police officers who took oath to serve and respect the law to the letter while we deliver on our constitutional mandate," Kayima said.

Kirumira' s announcement came at a time when the Police is under the spotlight, especially after the arrest of senior officers on a number of charges ranging from kidnap, robberies, among other crimes, by sister security agencies led by Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence and Internal Security Organisation (ISO).

Previosuly, Kirumira was suspended over the same allegations he is currently charged with, before Police chief Gen. Kale Kayihura sent him for further training, promoted him and made him the Divisional Police Commander Old Kampala.

He would later be transferred  to Buyende, but later recalled over disciplinary issues.



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