Police will miss Katumba Wamala
Oct 31, 2005
BY STEVEN CANDIA<br><br>It is a pity that outgoing Inspector General of Police (IGP), Lt.Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, is going back to his home (army) on the eve of the police’s centenary - something he had keenly looked forward to. He would have shone at the celebrations next year.
BY STEVEN CANDIA
It is a pity that outgoing Inspector General of Police (IGP), Lt.Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, is going back to his home (army) on the eve of the police’s centenary - something he had keenly looked forward to. He would have shone at the celebrations next year.
Nevertheless, he will be remembered as the man who rid the police of drunkenness and corruption, or at least drastically reduced these vices. In his four-year tenure, Katumba axed 238 police officers to purge the force of drunkards who he argued failed to perform and consequently soiled the force’s image. Many more were cautioned and others arraigned before the police disciplinary court. The axed officers were among hundreds of junior policemen, allegedly with a drink problem, who had earlier been herded to the Police Training School (PTS) at Kibuli and subjected to the much-dreaded rigorous rehabilitation drills. After the drills they waited in anxiety, not knowing their fate, until they were given matching orders in December 2002.
Appointed on April 17, 2001 Katumba, then a Major General, became the 16th IGP of the 99 year old force which was established in 1906.
Katumba, then 45 and a soldier, joined the police just after Justice Ssebutinde Commission of Inquiry into corruption in the police.
On his hand was a tall order to turn around an otherwise lethargic and moribund, under staffed, under funded and poorly equipped police force, struggling with a bad public image.
On Katumba’s hands was the task of implementing the recommendations of the commission. Consequently, most senior officers were retired and a new team put in place.
Born on November 19, 1956 in Bweza, Kalangala, Ssese Islands, Katumba walked into the force to apprehension among senior police officers who could not fathom how an army man could be brought to head them. However, slowly and surely, Katumba, known for his eloquence and warmth, won their acceptance and fitted in nicely.
But he has also taken the bashing from the opposition who have always accused him of being partisan, given that the police has on several occasions not allowed the opposition hold rallies or whipped them off the streets.
Katumba took over just before police was ejected from the Crested Towers and had to squat at PTS Kibuli, where it has remained until today. He may not be happy that he is leaving before he could build a permanent home (headquarters) for the force, which was one of his biggest plans. He is to be credited for the Police Appreciation Day when the public appreciates the role of the police and police gives back to those who have helped them discharge their duties.
On welfare the touchy issue of clothing allowances for detectives still remains. Accommodation is another outstanding issue. When Katumba took over as IGP he had an ambitious plan of not only renovating the old structures but building new housing units for police. On this, he leaves another unaccomplished plan.
However, he has managed to put up several unipots in several police barracks. Using the hydraform technology, 24 housing units were built in Ntinda police barracks, 32 in Ntungamo and another 32 are under construction in Bundibugyo district, but these have not alleviated the housing crisis in the force. Most police officers continue to leave in squalid conditions and police barracks across the country still remain an eyesore. Katumba was smart on public relations. As one of his strategies, he embarked on a proactive approach of talking to the public to accept him and realize that the police belongs to them. In 2002 when the city was infested with marauding gunmen, he embarked on a door-to-door fundraising drive and raised five patrol trucks.
He will also be remembered for his role in Operation Wembley, which cleared gangsters and returned the city to normalcy before it wound up in February 2003 when it was transformed into the Violent Crime Crack Unit (VCCU).
Training in the force has been stepped up and communication equipment purchased though a lot more still has to be done.
It is also in his term that Uganda Police Force has sent three contingents on UN and African Union peacekeeping missions.
Katumba holds a certificate in agriculture. He did military courses in Tanzania, Jinja, USSR, Nigeria and USA.
It is a pity that outgoing Inspector General of Police (IGP), Lt.Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, is going back to his home (army) on the eve of the police’s centenary - something he had keenly looked forward to. He would have shone at the celebrations next year.
Nevertheless, he will be remembered as the man who rid the police of drunkenness and corruption, or at least drastically reduced these vices. In his four-year tenure, Katumba axed 238 police officers to purge the force of drunkards who he argued failed to perform and consequently soiled the force’s image. Many more were cautioned and others arraigned before the police disciplinary court. The axed officers were among hundreds of junior policemen, allegedly with a drink problem, who had earlier been herded to the Police Training School (PTS) at Kibuli and subjected to the much-dreaded rigorous rehabilitation drills. After the drills they waited in anxiety, not knowing their fate, until they were given matching orders in December 2002.
Appointed on April 17, 2001 Katumba, then a Major General, became the 16th IGP of the 99 year old force which was established in 1906.
Katumba, then 45 and a soldier, joined the police just after Justice Ssebutinde Commission of Inquiry into corruption in the police.
On his hand was a tall order to turn around an otherwise lethargic and moribund, under staffed, under funded and poorly equipped police force, struggling with a bad public image.
On Katumba’s hands was the task of implementing the recommendations of the commission. Consequently, most senior officers were retired and a new team put in place.
Born on November 19, 1956 in Bweza, Kalangala, Ssese Islands, Katumba walked into the force to apprehension among senior police officers who could not fathom how an army man could be brought to head them. However, slowly and surely, Katumba, known for his eloquence and warmth, won their acceptance and fitted in nicely.
But he has also taken the bashing from the opposition who have always accused him of being partisan, given that the police has on several occasions not allowed the opposition hold rallies or whipped them off the streets.
Katumba took over just before police was ejected from the Crested Towers and had to squat at PTS Kibuli, where it has remained until today. He may not be happy that he is leaving before he could build a permanent home (headquarters) for the force, which was one of his biggest plans. He is to be credited for the Police Appreciation Day when the public appreciates the role of the police and police gives back to those who have helped them discharge their duties.
On welfare the touchy issue of clothing allowances for detectives still remains. Accommodation is another outstanding issue. When Katumba took over as IGP he had an ambitious plan of not only renovating the old structures but building new housing units for police. On this, he leaves another unaccomplished plan.
However, he has managed to put up several unipots in several police barracks. Using the hydraform technology, 24 housing units were built in Ntinda police barracks, 32 in Ntungamo and another 32 are under construction in Bundibugyo district, but these have not alleviated the housing crisis in the force. Most police officers continue to leave in squalid conditions and police barracks across the country still remain an eyesore. Katumba was smart on public relations. As one of his strategies, he embarked on a proactive approach of talking to the public to accept him and realize that the police belongs to them. In 2002 when the city was infested with marauding gunmen, he embarked on a door-to-door fundraising drive and raised five patrol trucks.
He will also be remembered for his role in Operation Wembley, which cleared gangsters and returned the city to normalcy before it wound up in February 2003 when it was transformed into the Violent Crime Crack Unit (VCCU).
Training in the force has been stepped up and communication equipment purchased though a lot more still has to be done.
It is also in his term that Uganda Police Force has sent three contingents on UN and African Union peacekeeping missions.
Katumba holds a certificate in agriculture. He did military courses in Tanzania, Jinja, USSR, Nigeria and USA.