Odwe appeals for better pay for Police as he retires
Aug 22, 2011
IT was a touching moment as the outgoing deputy Inspector General of Police, Julius Odwe, narrated what the Police officers go through every day.
By Pascal Kwesiga and Simon Masaba
IT was a touching moment as the outgoing deputy Inspector General of Police, Julius Odwe, narrated what the Police officers go through every day.
Addressing hundreds of guests and Police officers who turned up at his farewell party at Hotel Africana in Kampala on Friday, Odwe said he was leaving the force at a time when there are increased hurdles for the ordinary Police officers to grapple with amid limited resources.
“The poor accommodation, poor remuneration and being away from home for a long time are some of the hurdles that make the work of the Police officers difficult,†Odwe noted.
Odwe said the Police management needs to “walk-the-talk†on the welfare of the Police if it is to be seen as fair.
“There is need to walk-the-talk and not walk-to-work. The public service needs to be fair to the Police,†he said.
On his part, the Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, said the Police Force had improved tremendously and that the only challenge was lack of adequate training and funding.
Odwe added that life should not be gauged by duration but by donation.
“What you give to society is what is more important. But to others, I may have been darkness at the end of the tunnel,†he said.
Odwe, who has held the second highest position in the Police for 10 years, also served as head of the Criminal Investigations Department and served under the general duties department for several years.
Internal affairs minister Hillary Onek said the current situation that is compounded by opposition riots is the most challenging time for the Police.
“We are at cross-roads. This is the most challenging time for the Police,†Onek said.
He said the practice of the opposition holding political rallies and demonstrations in crowded places has left the Police wondering whether to let them exercise their right to demonstrate or to stop them from violating other people’s right to do business.
“We are not opposed to demonstrations but if somebody convenes a rally in a market, he would be infringing on the rights of others and property would be destroyed,†he said.
Onek said whereas there is a constitutional provision that allows people to demonstrate, this right cannot be exercised in violation of the rights of others as the Police looks on.
The minister’s remarks comesdays after the Police dispersed a gathering of opposition leaders and supporters in Kireka Taxi Park where they had convened to remember the people who were killed in the walk-to-work protests.
Kayihura said the Government would start to award medals to distinguished Police officers such as Odwe.
IT was a touching moment as the outgoing deputy Inspector General of Police, Julius Odwe, narrated what the Police officers go through every day.
Addressing hundreds of guests and Police officers who turned up at his farewell party at Hotel Africana in Kampala on Friday, Odwe said he was leaving the force at a time when there are increased hurdles for the ordinary Police officers to grapple with amid limited resources.
“The poor accommodation, poor remuneration and being away from home for a long time are some of the hurdles that make the work of the Police officers difficult,†Odwe noted.
Odwe said the Police management needs to “walk-the-talk†on the welfare of the Police if it is to be seen as fair.
“There is need to walk-the-talk and not walk-to-work. The public service needs to be fair to the Police,†he said.
On his part, the Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, said the Police Force had improved tremendously and that the only challenge was lack of adequate training and funding.
Odwe added that life should not be gauged by duration but by donation.
“What you give to society is what is more important. But to others, I may have been darkness at the end of the tunnel,†he said.
Odwe, who has held the second highest position in the Police for 10 years, also served as head of the Criminal Investigations Department and served under the general duties department for several years.
Internal affairs minister Hillary Onek said the current situation that is compounded by opposition riots is the most challenging time for the Police.
“We are at cross-roads. This is the most challenging time for the Police,†Onek said.
He said the practice of the opposition holding political rallies and demonstrations in crowded places has left the Police wondering whether to let them exercise their right to demonstrate or to stop them from violating other people’s right to do business.
“We are not opposed to demonstrations but if somebody convenes a rally in a market, he would be infringing on the rights of others and property would be destroyed,†he said.
Onek said whereas there is a constitutional provision that allows people to demonstrate, this right cannot be exercised in violation of the rights of others as the Police looks on.
The minister’s remarks comesdays after the Police dispersed a gathering of opposition leaders and supporters in Kireka Taxi Park where they had convened to remember the people who were killed in the walk-to-work protests.
Kayihura said the Government would start to award medals to distinguished Police officers such as Odwe.